UP outlasts UE in 5 sets
THE University of the Philippines (UP) Lady Fighting Maroons booked a hard-earned win in their University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 80 debut, surviving the University of the East (UE) Lady Warriors in five sets, 25-19, 25-13, 21-25, 16-25 and 15-8, yesterday in opening action in women’s play at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Playing their first game under new coach Godfrey Okumu, the Lady Maroons had to dig deep and stand their ground down the stretch to stave off the Lady Warriors and get their campaign in the just- started volleyball season to a winning start.
The Diliman- based volleybelles raced to an 8- 4 count in the first technical knockout of the opening set and pretty much took it from there and never looked back with Isa Molde leading the way.
The second frame took a similar route as the Lady Maroons, gaining confidence early, established an 8- 3 separation, extending it further to 16- 9 in the second technical knockout en route to claiming a 2- 0 lead in the match.
UE though would not go down without a fight as it presented a more spirited challenge in the third set.
The Lady Warriors stood toetotoe with their opponents to begin the third frame.
The teams were tied at 11-11 midway before UP racked up two straight points to lead, 13-11.
UE answered back with a 3-0 blast to overtake UP, 14-13.
They went back and forth after and were knotted at 19all at one point until the Lady Warriors outscored the Lady Maroons the rest of the way to win the set and extend play.
Jolted by its defeat in the third set, UP charged to an 8- 5 lead in the first technical knockout and extended it some more to 11-6.
But led by the energy and play of outside hitter Judith Abil and opposite Shaya Adorador, the Lady Warriors rallied back to take the advantage, 16-13, by the second technical knockout.
UE built on the momentum, stretching its lead further to 2113.
Back- to- back points from Molde and Aly Buitre stopped the bleeding for the Lady Maroons, 21-15.
The Lady Warriors though would not be denied as they moved to send the match to a deciding fifth set.
With the outcome of the game still wide open, the two teams battled hard to start the fifth frame.
Molde and Tots Carlos took charge for UP, helping their team to an 8-3 advantage.
UE scored three consecutive points to narrow the gap, 8- 6. UP, however, would answer back with two straight of its own to create further gap anew, 10-6.
It was a hole that proved to be too hard for UE to claw its way out from as the Lady Maroons went for the closeout after.
Carlos led the way for UP with 22 points, 20 off kills, while Molde added 20 points.
Justine Dorog had 11 while Jessma Ramos and Buitre had seven points apiece.
Setter Arielle Estranero, meanwhile, had 40 excellent sets for UP (1-0).
On the part of UE it was Abil who led with 12 points and Mean Mendrez adding 10.
“UE played well. We put pressure on them early but we were not able to sustain it. Good thing we got back to our game, especially on defense, in the fifth set,” Mr. Okumu said after their win.