Fighting Maroons stay afloat, sweep also-ran Blue Eagles

UP’s Nina Ytang

(UAAP Media Bureau)

MANILA, Philippines — University of the Philippines breathed life into its dimming Final Four hopes after sweeping the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 25-20, 25-14, 25-23, in their UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball clash Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

The Fighting Maroons, currently at sixth, are knocking on the Final Four door as they rose to 5-6. The Blue Eagles dropped to 1-10.

“[We have to] win everything. We got no chances to slow down and that was important today,” Fighting Maroons head coach Fabio Mento said after the match.

“In a couple of timeouts, I told the girls, we’re not only thinking about today, we’re thinking about going fast for the next games and we can’t afford losing a set. We need to prove that we are worth [to be here],” he added.

“The mindset is just to give it all.”

Nina Ytang stood tall for the Diliman-based squad, finishing with 18 points on 13 attacks, three blocks and two aces. Jelai Gajero had 13 on six hits and seven blocks, out-blocking Ateneo’s six blocks, while Irah Jaboneta chipped in 12 markers.

After breezy wins in the first two sets, UP saw itself trailing late.

The Fighting Maroons were behind 19-21 in the third set after an error.

However, Ytang took charge late. She punched in five of UP’s last six points, made up of a quick attack, a couple of off-the-block hits and two aces to grab the win, 25-23.

“Sobrang eager talaga namin [to lead the charge to the playoffs] lalo na, mag-start sa training pa lang, sinisimulan na namin,” Ytang said after the match.

“Talagang dapat 101%, 102%, 103%, 104% and so on. Every day, every training,” she added.

UP will try to continue climbing up the standings as they take on fellow Final Four hopeful Far Eastern University at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.

The Fighting Maroons, which last reached the Final Four in Season 78, still has to get past Adamson on April 15 and University of Santo Tomas on April 19.

Dona De Leon led Ateneo with seven points in the losing effort.

The also-ran Blue Eagles will face traditional rival De La Salle University on Saturday at the FilOil Centre in San Juan.