UNIVERSITY of the Philippines pulled off the biggest upset of the season, ending National University’s undefeated run in the UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Tournament with a hard-fought 26-24, 23-25, 17-25, 25-23, 15-12 come-from-behind victory on Wednesday afternoon at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
Reeling from a narrow five-set defeat to the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles last Saturday, the Fighting Maroons banked on the 30-point explosion of middle blocker Nina Ytang to rise to solo fifth place in the eight-team field with a 4-5 card, breaking the previous three-way tie they had with the Blue Eagles and the Adamson University Lady Falcons.
Ytang became the first middle blocker across all eight teams to score at least 30 points since National University legend Jaja Santiago’s 30-point performance in a five-set loss to University of Santo Tomas last April 8, 2017. She was also two points away from matching the UP women’s volleyball scoring record of Tots Carlos last February 28, 2018.
More importantly, Ytang’s heroics allowed the Fighting Maroons to snap a seven-year, nine-game losing streak against NU, a drought that stretched back to Season 81 in 2019. The last time the Fighting Maroons defeated the Lady Bulldogs was in the second round of Season 80 on April 4, 2018.
“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,” the 23-year-old middle blocker said.
In a back-and-forth fifth set affair, the Lady Bulldogs slowly began to gain the upper hand as two consecutive blocks from Sheena Toring and Alyssa Solomon gave NU a slim 12-11 lead.
However, UP displayed incredible poise under pressure against the defending champions, uncorking a crucial 4-0 run behind a net touch error and an attack error from Solomon, a quick hit from Ytang, and an off-the-block attack from Joan Monares to seal the stunning victory in two hours and 35 minutes.
“Mabilis lang din talaga magadjust yung mga players sa instructions. Of course, we tried to minimize yung output ng NU. So far, nagwork 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.
Ytang received ample support from Monares’ 16 points, eight excellent digs, and eight excellent receptions, while Irah Jaboneta achieved a triple-double of 10 points on eight attacks, one block, and one ace with 19 excellent receptions and 13 excellent digs.
Kianne Olango and Bienne Bansil — who both hail from NU’s girls’ volleyball program — also played pivotal parts in the win by scoring 10 points each against their high school alma mater.
Jaz Manguilimotan tossed 17 excellent sets, while Yesha Capistrano contributed 11 excellent digs and seven excellent receptions for the Fighting Maroons.
UP looks to continue its winning ways against a winless University of the East squad come Sunday, March 30, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Meanwhile, NU’s nine-game winning streak came to an end, dropping them to an 8-1 record ahead of a crucial showdown against Far Eastern University on the same day and venue.
MVP frontrunner Bella Belen paced the Lady Bulldogs in the losing effort with a triple-double effort of 21 points on 16 attacks and five aces with 13 excellent digs and 12 excellent receptions, while Solomon tallied 19 points on 15 attacks, three blocks, and one ace with nine excellent digs.
Vange Alinsug contributed 16 points on 12 attacks, three aces, and one block with eight excellent digs and eight excellent receptions, while Erin Pangilinan chipped in 11 points on eight attacks and three blocks in the loss.
