MANILA, Philippines – Adamson drew strength from Angela Benting as it rallied from a five-point deficit in the fifth and deciding set to eke out a shock 22-25, 25-18, 25-19, 22-25, 15-13 win over heavily favored National U in the Shakey's V-League Season 10-First Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Benting, a guest player who played college ball for this same Marcelino-based school, peppered their foes with a game-best 28 hits, including a whopping 25 on attacks, that left the Lady Bulldogs flustered while sealing the Lady Falcons a 1-0 lead in their best-of-three series.
"She really trained hard for this game and it showed in how she played," Adamson coach Sherwin Meneses said in Filipino, referring to the crisp-spiking Benting.
Up 9-4 in the decider, the Lady Bulldogs appeared ready to explode and celebrate but Benting willed her team back and a smashing kill and a service ace sealed it for Adamson, which dealt NU its first ever loss in the league after seven straight wins.