By ADRIAN STEWART CO
The University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons handed the National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs their first loss in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament with a 26-24, 23-25, 17-25, 25-23, 15-12 victory at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City on Wednesday, March 26.
Negrense Joan Marie Monares made her presence felt with 16 attacks, eight excellent digs and eight excellent receptions as the Fighting Maroons improved to a 4-5 win-loss slate for solo fifth place.
Niña Ytang spearheaded the offense with a career-high of 30 points on 27 attacks and two blocks to go with four excellent digs.
Antiquena Irah Jaboneta, Kianne Olango and Bienne Bansil ended with 10 points apiece for the Fighting Maroons.
Down 8-9 midway through the fifth set, the Fighting Maroons took a 10-9 lead on back-to-back attacks from Monares, but the Lady Bulldogs took the lead back at 12-11 on conversions from Camille Lamina and Alyssa Solomon.
Back-to-back hits from Bansil and Ytang gave UP a 13-12 edge before they completed the upset victory on an attack error by Solomon and a powerful hit from Monares.
Mhicaela Belen finished with 21 points, 13 excellent digs and 12 excellent receptions.
Solomon added 19 markers, while Evangeline Alinsug and Erin Pangilinan had 16 and 11, respectively, as the Lady Bulldogs dropped to an 8-1 mark.
With the Lady Bulldogs suffering their first defeat, the tournament’s semifinals will now follow the traditional Final Four format instead of a step-ladder, which would have been applied had NU swept the 14-game eliminations.
Meanwhile, Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws climbed to the solo second spot in the standings with a 25-20, 25-20, 25-23 sweep over the University of the East Lady Warriors.
Jazlyn Ellarina stepped up offensively with 17 points on 12 attacks, three service aces and two blocks.
Gerzel Petallo and Chen Tagaod contributed 15 markers apiece as the Lady Tamaraws improved to a 6-3 win-loss record.
Khy Cepada finished with 13 points to lead the Lady Warriors, while Nessa Bangayan added 10 markers as they remained winless in nine games./ASC, WDJ