V-League: Adamson leans on Pineda, Sangmuang in Battle for Third
Shiela Pineda of Adamson dives for the ball. Photo by Kevin Dela Cruz/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines - Shiela Pineda and Pacharee Sangmuang put on a volleyball clinic as they lifted Adamson University over University of Santo Tomas, 25-17, 25-23, 18-25, 25-19, in the Shakey's V-League Season 11 First Conference Battle for Third, Sunday, May 18, at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan City.
Pineda, who took home this conference's Most Improved Player award, finished with 14 markers to go with nine digs while Sangmuang registered a game-high 17 points as the Lady Falcons soar to a 1-0 edge in the best-of-three series.
Adamson dictated the tempo right from the get-go as Pineda sizzled early to tow the San Marcelino side to a six-point bubble before they took the opening set with ease, 25-17.
UST, however, fought back in the second as Ennajie Laure and Pam Lastimosa delivered tje goods but the Lady Falcons kept them at bay with Sangmuang finishing off the Tigresses in a hotly-contested frame for a 2-0 set lead.
Both squads then engaged in a tight third canto as UST and Adamson swapped hits but the Tigresses were able to extend the match into a fourth set after Laure led her squad in detonating a 7-2 bomb to finish the set, 25-18.
It was just as close in the fourth as Lastimosa and Chloe Cortez fought gallantly despite being two sets down but their numerous errors allowed Adamson to take the match, 25-19.
"We just want to finish this series on Sunday," Adamson coach Sherwin Meneses told reporters after the game.
It was neck-and-neck for both squads in the digs department as Adamson edges UST, 27-26, but the Lady Falcons dominated in setting, 32-24, behind May Macatuno's 30 sets.
Pau Soriano and Amanda Villanueva added 10 points each for Adamson while Cortez led all scorers for UST with 14.
Scores
Adamson - Sangmuang 17, Pineda 14, Soriano 10, Villanueva 10, Paat 9, Galanza 4, Macatuno 2, Lebumfacil 1
Santo Tomas - Cortez 14, Meneses 11, Laure 11, Lastimosa 10, De Leon 6, Tunay 3, Lantin 3, Palec 1
By set: 25-17, 25-23, 18-25, 25-19
