UP slams San Beda, claims last semis slot

The University of the Philippines Lady Maroons avoided going through a complicated playoff scenario and claimed an outright PVL Collegiate Conference semifinals berth after drubbing the San Beda University Lady Red Spikers, 25-19, 25-16, 25-9, at the FilOil Flying V Centre.

UP was dominant throughout, even as they played without starter Nikki Magsarile who sprained her knee in training.

The Katipunan-based squad dominated each scoring category, including a lofty 39-16 spiking advantage.

With their season hanging on the line, UP head coach Godfrey Okumu urged his players to play with a sense of urgency.

“I told them that we needed to play like this was our final game,” said the Kenyan mentor. “In the last few games, our finishing wasn’t good. We were not decisive in our movements. We did our homework well to beat our opponent.”

Isa Molde dominated the match, tallying 19 points to go with 16 digs while veteran Marian Buitre added 10 markers.

UP finished with a 4-3 record. They will face undefeated top seed Adamson Lady Falcons in the best-of-three semis which begins on Wednesday.

Nieza Viray exemplified an anemic San Beda offense, tallying just six points while captain Cesca Racraquin had three.

San Beda ended their campaign at sixth place with a 2-5 card.

The Scores

UP (3) – Molde 19, Buitre 10, Layug 8, Rosier 7, Gannaban 3, Sotomil 2, Bernaedo 0, Altomea (L), Bautista (L)

SBU (0) – Viray N. 6, Racraquin A. 4, Espiritu 3, Matias 3, Viray J. 3, Manzano 2, Dioso 0, Galang 0, Paras 0, Tannagan 0, Racraquin D. (L)