Macatangay and Rubie de Leon dished out solid games expected of them as the Lady Falcons sealed their first win in a victory that spoke well of the caliber of the team raring to create an immediate impact in the league
"They just played great," said Adamson coach Dulce Pante, who steered the San Marcelino-based school to a second place finish to La Salle in last year’s UAAP, referring to his talented tandem of Macatangay and De Leon.
"We just proved in this game that we’re one of the teams to beat here," she added.
The event, organized by Sports Vision Management Group, Inc. headed by Jun Bernardino, is presented by Shakey’s Pizza and backed by Accel and Mikasa.
Proving she’s the country’s No. 1 spiker, Macatangay came away with 24 points, including 21 on kills that shattered whatever net defense the Lady Dolphins, runners-up to the Lady Stags in the 2005 NCAA season, had throughout the match.
De Leon, who played college ball for Santo Tomas, for her part, added eight points but it was her setting prowess that complemented well with Macatangay’s awesome power.
She made 69 sets, 30 of which Macatangay converted into points.
PCU, the 2003-2004 NCAA champion, actually had its chances of stealing a set. But each time, the Lady Falcons foiled their rivals with solid team play.
The Lady Dolphins seized a 15-12 lead in the second set but Macatangay rallied the Lady Falcons with a barrage of kills which the Taft-based spikers failed to stop.
In the third set, PCU turned an 8-11 deficit into a 20-17 lead, thanks to a solid defense, which nevertheless crumbled after Gustillo sparked the Lady Falcons’ fightback of eight unanswered points to complete the sweep.