By ADRIAN STEWART CO

The University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons overcame a tough stand by the University of the East (UE) Lady Warriors for a 25-18, 26-24, 24-26, 13-25, 15-13 victory in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Saturday, February 15.

Negrense Joan Marie Monares top-scored for the Fighting Maroons with 17 points, including 16 attacks, to go with 11 excellent digs.

Rookie Kianne Louise Olango added 15 markers.

After failing to close out the gutsy Lady Warriors in the third and fourth sets, the Fighting Maroons capitalized on UE’s early errors in the fifth set, followed by attacks from Olango for a 9-3 start.

The Lady Warriors mounted a huge run to tie the score at 13-all before Dannica Celis and Niña Ytang responded with back-to-back hits to clinch the victory for the Fighting Maroons.

“Every time na nagte-training kami, we give our best,” Monares said.

“Kailangan naming lahat i-work ‘yung individual skills namin, as well as teamwork and connection to each other. So sa win today, it’s everyone,” she said.

“It was teamwork, and also, sa tulong ng mga coaches. ‘Yung mga teammates namin outside the court, nire-remind kami na kaya pa namin lumaban, ipanalo ‘yung game,” she added.

KC Cepada top-scored for the Lady Warriors with 24 points, while Nessa Bangayan and Kayce Balingit added 17 and 12 markers, respectively.

Meanwhile, the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws opened their season with a 25-19, 16-25, 25-14, 25-20 victory over the University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses.

Gerzel Petallo finished with 15 points, on eight attacks, five blocks and two service aces, to be named Player of the Game as the Lady Tamaraws tied the Fighting Maroons with a 1-0 win-loss slate./ASC, WDJ