Maroons rally to clip Blue Eagles

MANILA, Philippines — University of the Philippines came from two sets down and completed the reverse sweep against the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 17-25, 19-25, 25-22, 25-23, 16-14, in their UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball clash Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

UP had to claw one out to grab its second win of the season, while they kept the Blue Eagles winless.

It is also the first win of the Fighting Maroons against Ateneo since UAAP Season 80.

Nina Ytang powered the Diliman-based squad with 15 points on 11 attacks, three blocks and an ace. Irah Jaboneta backstopped with 14 markers, while Fina Ali and Casiey Dongallo had 13 each.

“Finally, we found a way to play our own game because we were worrying too much about what was happening on the other side. So, when we found that kind of rhythm, that kind of game that we like more, we became more effective,” said UP head coach Fabio Menta.

After getting blasted in the first two sets, UP found its rhythm in the third and fourth sets with hard-earned victories.

In the fifth set, the Fighting Maroons held a 9-6 lead, but a 5-1 run by Ateneo, capped by an attack error by Dongallo, pushed them ahead, 11-10.

But three straight points by UP, punctuated by an Ali down-the-line attack, gave them the upper hand, 13-11.

It was still far from over, though, as Ateneo forced the extended set after an Ana Hermosura tied things up at 14-all.

An Ali attack and a block by Ytang then iced the match.

Julia de Leon scored five points, along with 12 excellent sets, for the winning team. Jelai Gajero had eight.

JLo delos Santos top-scored for Ateneo with 21 points on 19 attacks, an ace and a block. Hermosura chipped in 19 points, while Donna de Leon and Zey Pacia had 15 and 14, respectively.

In men’s action, University of Santo Tomas broke through with a four-set win, 25-23, 25-22, 15-25, 25-19 over the La Salle Green Spikers, while the Blue Eagles drubbed UP, 21-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-18.

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