RIDING from the momentum of its stunner over National University, University of the Philippines booted out University of the East, 25-21, 25-18, 25-17, to fan its Final Four aspirations in the UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, Sunday.
The Fighting Maroons evened out their record at 5-5, now at solo fifth spot and just half a game below fourth-running UST Golden Tigresses at 5-4.
Despite the win though, UP head coach Benson Bocboc was far from satisfied even if his team nabbed its first straight-set win since Season 84, a 25-10, 25-19, 25-7 victory against Far Eastern University.
“Medyo magulo, medyo magulo ‘yung galaw ng team ngayon. So maraming errors ‘yung kalaban kaya nagkataon, we got the game. Pero sa amin, kulang. Kulang pa so siguro medyo shaky pa nung umpisa pero darating ‘yung time… kasi second round na eh, hindi na pwede ‘yung ganun na shaky,” said Bocboc.
(“The team’s movement is a bit messy right now. The opponent made a lot of errors, so it just so happened that we got the game. But for us, it’s not enough. We’re still lacking, and maybe we were a bit shaky at the start. But the time will come… since it’s already the second round, we can’t afford to be shaky anymore.”)
Knotted at five in the third set, Irah Jaboneta, Kassy Doering, Kianne Olango, and Joan Monares teamed up for seven straight points, 12-5, that put the game away for the Fighting Maroons, finishing the match in just 83 minutes.
Monares led UP’s offense with 15 points while Irah Jaboneta showed a well-rounded display of 13 points, nine digs, and eight receptions.
Doering and Olango also had eight points each while libero Giesha Capistrano tallied 11 excellent digs and nine receptions.
“I’m just trying to be at my best as much as I can and try to do my best for my team. These stats don’t happen just on one’s own. It comes from the pass, it comes from the set, it comes from everyone so for me, it’s just being at my best and staying disciplined in everything that I do.,” said the one-and-done American middle blocker Doering.
UP will seek a third straight win next Sunday when it faces FEU at the Big Dome. The Fighting Maroons defeated the Lady Tamaraws early in the season.
On the other hand, UE fell out of Final Four contention after receiving its 10th straight defeat. The Lady Warriors return on Saturday against De La Salle University.
Van Bangayan was the lone bright spot for UE with 13 points, while Khy Cepada was held to just four points in the first two sets before being replaced in the third.
