LA SALLE outlasted Adamson, 25-17, 25-27, 23-25, 25-23, 15-9, to secure the first twice-to-beat slot in the Final Four of the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament last night at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Angel Canino logged four points, Shevana Laput contributed two points while Jolina dela Cruz had two service aces in the Lady Spikers’ telling 8-0 run after the Lady Falcons scored the first two points of the deciding set.

Adamson lost Kate Santiago due to cramps with the San Marcelino-based side trailing 6-13.

But the Lady Falcons won’t just roll over, saving three match points before Dela Cruz closed out the marathon contest with a kill.

Canino eventually finished with a career-high 28 points, including five blocks for La Salle, which improved to a league-best 11-1.

Adamson fell to fourth at 8-4.

Earlier, Far Eastern University drew huge game from 5-foot-8 setter Tin Ubaldo to beat also-ran Ateneo, 25-21, 25-11, 22-25, 25-21, and keep its slim Final Four hopes alive with a 6-6 record.

Ubaldo, who first-year coach and Lady Tamaraws legend Tina Salak is developing to be a scoring setter, had seven points, including three attacks, two blocks and two service aces and tossed in 10 excellent sets.

Her match-clinching ace completed FEU’s season sweep against their counterparts from Katipunan.

“Whatever the outcome, yung sa amin kasi tinitignan namin yung three remaining games, two na lang kasi this one (naipanalo) na namin.

Yung three remaining games gusto namin talaga manalo if ever kung aabot kami… sa Final Four blessing na yun pero this time ang focus namin kailangan ma-maximize namin yung time namin dito sa UAAP na may win,” said Salak.

Chenie Tagaod took the scoring mantle for the Lady Tamaraws with 15 points, including two service aces, Jov Fernandez had two blocks and two service aces for a 12-point outing while sisters Jean and Ann Asis combined for six of the team’s 12 blocks.

Faith Nisperos had 20 points and eight digs, Lyann de Guzman added 11 points while AC Miner had four blocks for a 10-point effort for the Blue Eagles, who suffered their eighth loss in 12 matches.

Ateneo still has something to celebrate about.