If Adamson could dish out the ‘Big D’ which it displayed to take Game One of its best-of-three title series with Ateneo, then there’s no reason why the Lady Falcons can’t win their first major championship.

The long, agonizing wait could end today as Adamson is all fired-up for its Game 2 showdown with Ateneo in the Shakey’s V-League before another expected banner crowd at The Arena in San Juan City.

In their impressive 25-7, 25-14, 23-25, 25-22 victory Tuesday, the San Marcelino-based spikers held the Lady Eagles to just seven points in the first set – their lowest output so far in the tournament – which was enough to get them going.

They also played brilliant defense on Ateneo’s Thai import Em-om Phanusit who was limited to just six points – a far cry from her usual output in their last two games where she averaged 30 points.

Even Adamson mentor Dulce Pante believes that defense, and not offense, will once more play a crucial role in their bid to close out the series when they play Ateneo at 4 p.m.

“Defense will win us our first V-League title today. It will be 60 percent defense and 40 percent offense. We just need to stay focus and play the same type of game that made us win the last time,” said Pante.

If the Lady Falcons prevail, they will become only the third squad to hoist the championship trophy in the five-year history of the tourney.

University of Santo Tomas and De La Salle University, which begged off from competing this conference for academic reasons, have dominated the league in the past four years, splitting six titles between themselves.

Though everything seemed to be working well for the Adamson, Pante admits they don’t want to fall into a false sense of security, the same culprit that made them lose what could be their first ever UAAP title few months back.

Adamson was actually in this same kind of scenario, leading 1-0 opposite Far Eastern University in their best-of-three UAAP finals duel last season, but failed to wrap up the series after the Lady Tamaraws won the next two games.

“We’ve learned our lessons (from the UAAP finals) well. We’ll make sure it won’t happen again,” assured Pante, who will need another explosive performance from top MVP contender and guest player Neriza Bautista to quench their thirst for a crown.

Rissa Laguilles, Michelle Segodine and Angela Benting are expected to provide the much needed support for Bautista, who sizzled for a huge 30-point effort in Game One.

The Lady Falcons, whose Game One win was their fourth straight over the Lady Eagles this season, however, should not take their rivals lightly.

“Definitely we will prevent Adamson from celebrating. We need to enjoy the game at huwag isipin kung ano ang nangyayari sa loob ng arena,” said Ateneo coach Michelle Laborte of her team, which is playing in the finals for the first time since joining the league in 2005.

To stop Adamson, Phanusit and team captain Charo Soriano should step up their games, while the rest should play solid defense to neutralize Bautista.

San Sebastian, meanwhile, hopes to bag the third place honor when it meets Lyceum at 2 o’clock.

The SSC lasses are leading in their own best-of-three series after taking Game One of this tournament backed by Shakey’s Pizza, Mail and More, ICT Call Center, Active White skin whitening products, Accel, Mikasa, 100Plus, and presented by Sports Vision.

For her consistent brilliant showing, Bautista, meanwhile, is heavily favored to clinch her first Most Valuable Player award today.

Among Bautista’s expected rivals for the award are Lyceum’s Beverly Boto and Soriano.

Aside from the MVP award, also to be given out during a simple ceremony after the SSC-Lyceum tiff are the Best Scorer, Best Blocker, Best Setter, Best Libero and Most Improved Player awards.

“Nene (Bautista) really deserves to win the MVP award. She really worked hard for this. Her steady performance brought us here into the Finals. This is her breakout conference,” Pante said.

The 5-foot-10 Bautista, a standout from the University of San Agustin in Iloilo, will try to be the first local player to win the award after two Thai imports clinched it in the past two conferences.