The UP Lady Maroons become streak-busters midway into UAAP Season 87 after ending the NU Lady Bulldogs’ unbeaten start.
It will be a traditional Final Four after all.
The UP Lady Maroons pulled off a shocking upset in the UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Tournament, ending the NU Lady Bulldogs’ unbeaten run in a thrilling 26-24, 23-25, 17-25, 25-23, 15-12 comeback on Wednesday afternoon at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
Niña Ytang was a woman on a mission in the five-set thriller, becoming the first UAAP middle blocker since Jaja Santiago in Season 79 to breach the 30-point mark, while also coming close to Tots Carlos’ UP single-game record of 32 markers after finishing with a 27-of-42 spiking clip.
“Speechless ako, bilog talaga ang bola. Binigay lang namin talaga lahat ‘eh, sabi nga namin nung fifth set, dito na, malayo na tayo, kaya bakit pa tayo susuko? Linaban lang talaga namin, tulungan at tiyaga lang sa loob ng court,” an ecstatic Ytang said post-game as UP also snapped a seven-season, eight-game losing skid against the Lady Bulldogs.
A crucial 4-0 run sealed State U’s upset in Set 5, who overcame a 12-11 deficit built on a pair of errors from Solomon, a quick hit from Ytang, and a well-placed off-speed hit from senior outside hitter Joan Monares.
UP’s red-hot offense was key to Wednesday’s victory, with the Lady Maroons edging out NU in the spiking department (68-64) as a 16-point effort from Monares, and a trio of 10-point outings from Kianne Olango, Bienne Bansil, and two-way senior Irah Jaboneta complemented Ytang’s 30 huge markers.
“Mabilis lang din talaga mag-adjust yung mga players sa instructions. Of course, we tried to minimize ‘yung output ng NU. So far, nag-work kasi tulong-tulong talaga sila eh, simula sa service, galing sa block, hanggang sa depensa. Tiniyaga nila. Nung medyo natalo tayo, sobrang down talaga ng energy, pero buti nakabangon,” Fighting Maroons head coach Benson Bocboc said.
Bella Belen paced the Lady Bulldogs with 21 points built on 16 kills and five service aces, to go along with 13 excellent digs and five service aces, followed by Alyssa Solomon with 19, Vange Alinsug with 16, and Erin Pangilinan with 11 points built on three rejections.
Now holding a 4-5 record, UP seeks to continue its winning ways this Sunday, March 30, against the UE Lady Maroons at the SMART Araneta Coliseum, while the 8-1 Lady Bulldogs will face another Final Four contender in the FEU Lady Tamaraws on the same date.
Banner images courtesy of the UAAP Media Bureau.