Lady Maroons trample Lady Spikers
Proving that its five-set triumph in the first round was no fluke, UP dominates La Salle in straight sets
University of the Philippines dominated three-time defending champion La Salle, 25-16, 26-24, 25-19, on Sunday night in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament at Ynares Center in Antipolo. The Lady Maroons created a four-way tie for second place at 5-3 after Far Eastern University triumphed, 30-32, 25-20, 23-25, 25-20, over Adamson. UST, FEU and La Salle are also in that group.
University of the Philippines may have proven several points Sunday night. But the most significant of them was that, finally, somebody figured out a way to break La Salle’s armour of invincibility in the UAAP women’s volleyball competitions.
The Lady Maroons were one unstoppable force in shutting out the three-time defending champions, scoring a 25-16, 2624, 25-19 shellacking before a sell-out crowd at Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo City.
The win created a gridlock in second spot among four teams underneath runaway leader Ateneo.
It also proved a few other points.
One is that UP’s five-set win over La Salle in the first round—the Lady Spikers first taste of defeat this year—was not by sheer luck.
It also consolidated UP’s spot among the title contenders this season, which unofficially began when it won back-to- back club championships last year.
But most importantly, the Lady Maroons just figured out a way to dominate La Salle, which has won 11 titles over the span of 15 seasons.
It helped that La Salle, which topped the league in scoring from the service line—2.6 aces per set average—sputtered with 17 service errors for a shocking 37 unforced errors all in all.
Earlier, Far Eastern University weathered the loss of rookie Lycha Ebon to overcome Adamson, 30-32, 25-20, 23-25, 25-20, 15-13.
The Lady Tamaraws’ prized rookie hurt her right knee after landing awkwardly for a spike early in the fifth set.
She just scored two straight points when she was taken out of the court on a stretcher, grimacing in pain. The 19-year-old finished with 19 points.
Tots Carlos scored 13 points, while Isa Molde added 11 for UP.
After cruising to a first set win, UP rallied from a 14-9 deficit in the second frame to win.
That proved too much for La Salle, which never got its bearings from then on.