University of the Philippines once again needed to heat up before wielding the upset axe against previously-unbeaten National University, winning 16-25, 16-25, 25-22, 31-29, 18-16 to return to the win column of the UAAP Season 88 Women’s Volleyball Tournament on Saturday afternoon at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
Eager to atone for a humbling defeat to the DLSU Lady Spikers last Wednesday, the Fighting Maroons rebounded in emphatic fashion. The team leaned on the trio of Casiey Dongallo, Jelai Gajero, and Nina Ytang to rally from a 9-13 fifth-set deficit and overcome three match points, handing the Lady Bulldogs their first loss of the young season.
Reverse sweeps are nothing new for UP, which turned back Ateneo de Manila University just a week ago before doing the same to NU. The Lady Bulldogs now fall into a two-way tie with the Fighting Maroons for second place, both holding 3-1 win-loss records.
The Lady Bulldogs missed the services of rookie standout Sam Cantada in the fourth and fifth frames due to a minor lower-leg injury sustained with a 13–20 score in the third set.
Cantada had contributed 10 points on four aces, three attacks, and three blocks, alongside seven excellent digs before leaving the court.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“I told the girls that people judge us every day, but we know what we’re doing. We can’t waste time on a good day or a bad day, or get too excited because people are laughing at us like the last game,” UP head coach Fabio Menta said.
“The intelligence of this game is exactly there. They focus and try to focus full-time.”
The Lady Bulldogs seemed poised to avert the Fighting Maroons’ upset, with four consecutive points by rookie wing spiker Den Daylisan turning an 8-all deadlock in the fifth set into a comfortable four-point, 13-9 lead.
UP, however, refused to let their efforts go to waste. Two attacks by Gajero and back-to-back hits by Ytang forced another tie at 14-all.
Back-to-back attacks by Vange Alinsug gave NU a brief 16-15 advantage. But UP completed the reverse sweep with a Dongallo hit and two points from Bienne Bansil — a block and the game-winning quick attack.
UP capitalized on Cantada’s absence, dominating the third set before clawing back from a 21-24 fourth-set deficit. A down-the-line hit by Dongallo, a net touch by Chamy Maaya, and a Bansil block on Daylisan extended the match to a winner-take-all fifth set.
“Sobrang hirap kasi galing kami sa talo. Yung confidence namin, masyadong mababa. That’s why nahirapan din kami sa first and second set — we were thinking if kaya ba namin ito? Kailangan mag-show up ‘eh kasi atin ito ‘eh, this is our season ‘eh,” Ytang shared, recalling UP’s five-set triumph over NU in the second round of Season 87 last March 26, 2025.
Dongallo led the way with 20 points on 18 attacks and two blocks, alongside four excellent digs and four excellent receptions. Gajero added 19 points on 15 attacks, three blocks, and one ace, plus 11 excellent receptions and three excellent digs.
Ytang contributed 18 points on 10 attacks, seven blocks, and one ace, while Bansil finished with 10 points on five attacks and five blocks. In her Season 88 debut, team captain Joan Monares — still recovering from a back injury — posted five points, six excellent receptions, and three excellent digs.
Kizzie Madriaga delivered 17 excellent sets and two points, while Irah Jaboneta stepped up in the absence of Yesha Capistrano and Shamel Fernandez. She filled in as libero to finish with 16 excellent receptions and 13 excellent digs.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
On the other hand, Alinsug paced NU with 20 points on 16 attacks and four aces, alongside nine excellent digs and six excellent receptions. Arah Panique contributed 17 points on 15 attacks with five excellent digs.
Alexa Mata had 14 points, Maaya posted 11, while Lams Lamina orchestrated the offense with 19 excellent sets and six points.
The Fighting Maroons will next face the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws on Sunday, March 8, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Meanwhile, the Lady Bulldogs aim to bounce back against the University of the East this Wednesday, March 4, at the same venue.
