Riding the momentum of its stunning upset over National University, University of the Philippines eliminated University of the East, 25-21, 25-18, 25-17, to keep its Final Four hopes alive in the UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday.
The Fighting Maroons improved to a 5-5 record, securing solo fifth place and moving just half a game behind the fourth-seeded UST Golden Tigresses, who stand at 5-4.
Despite the straight-sets victory — UP’s first since Season 84 when it swept Far Eastern University, 25-10, 25-19, 25-7 — head coach Benson Bocboc remained unsatisfied with his team’s performance.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“Medyo magulo, medyo magulo ‘yung galaw ng team ngayon. So maraming errors ‘yung kalaban kaya nagkataon, we got the game. Pero sa amin, kulang. Kulang pa so siguro medyo shaky pa nung umpisa, pero darating ‘yung time… Kasi second round na eh, hindi na pwede ‘yung ganun na shaky,” said Bocboc.
Knotted at five in the third set, Irah Jaboneta, Kassy Doering, Kianne Olango, and Joan Monares sparked a decisive seven-point run to give UP a commanding 12-5 lead, effectively sealing the match in just 83 minutes.
Monares led the Fighting Maroons with 15 points, while Jaboneta delivered a well-rounded performance with 13 points, nine digs, and eight receptions.
Doering and Olango contributed eight points each, while libero Giesha Capistrano anchored UP’s floor defense with 11 excellent digs and nine receptions.
“I’m just trying to be at my best as much as I can and try to do my best for my team. These stats don’t happen just on one’s own. It comes from the pass, it comes from the set, it comes from everyone, so for me, it’s just being at my best and staying disciplined in everything that I do,” said the one-and-done American middle blocker Doering.
UP will aim for a third consecutive win next Sunday against FEU at the Big Dome. The Fighting Maroons defeated the Lady Tamaraws earlier in the season.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Meanwhile, UE officially bowed out of Final Four contention after suffering its 10th consecutive defeat. The Lady Warriors will return to action on Saturday against De La Salle University.
Van Bangayan was UE’s lone bright spot with 13 points, while Khy Cepada was limited to just four points in the first two sets before being subbed out in the third.
