The Adamson Lady Falcons showed a united front as they beat UP via sweep, ending the first round of UAAP Season 88 with a winning record.
Everything clicked for the Adamson Lady Falcons en route to a convincing 25-18, 25-16, 25-19 sweep of the UP Fighting Maroons to cap the first round of UAAP Season 88 at the Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday, March 15.
After missing the chance to upset La Salle in their last game, the right plays fell into place for Shaina Nitura and the Lady Falcons this time around.
Nitura (14 points) has been collaborating with Frances Mordi (18 points) for Adamson’s 1-2 punch this season, and the two combined for 32 points to push Adamson to a 4-3 mark at the halfway point of the season.
With the Lady Falcons in position to contend for the Final Four, Nitura said that it has all to do with how they’ve worked together.
“Since then naman, yun na yung goal namin sa team. To be one and to be a team na lahat talaga may contribution. And now it's happening because of, syempre sa will ni God and sa tulong din niya. At the same time, the efforts na binigay nung buong team, coaching staff and my teammates,” Nitura said following the win.
“Yung emotional [strength] din talaga, nakapit [kami] sa isa't isa. Natitiwala lang sa program at sa isa't isa, sa mga team mate sa amin.”
But the season has been far from easy for the Lady Falcons.
The highs have been high, including a surprise sweep of UST, but Adamson still has walls to scale if the team is to truly take the next step forward.
Still, the Lady Falcons are giving themselves credit to be right in the thick of things through the first seven games.
“Eto yung plan B namin, to be in a 4-3 finish. Kasi gino-goal sana namin was 5-2, pero yun nga, bumagsak kami sa 4-3 and yun yung kinaya ng team. So this is a good start for us, coming into the second round,” said Nitura.
“It's not easy, but it's easier for us to get into the Final Four [thanks] to this win,” she continued.
Adamson is in a three-team logjam for 3rd-5th after the first round, sharing an identical record with UST and FEU.
Meanwhile, UP ends the first round in 6th with a 3-4 record, suffering through a three-game losing skid.
Joan Monares paced an injury-hit UP side with seven points, three digs, and five receptions against Adamson.
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Luisa Morales is a sports writer with a special interest in promoting women’s sports.
Her coverage highlights include the UAAP, PVL, Southeast Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup. She also follows Alex Eala, the Philippine women’s national football team, and mixed martial arts.