UP takes down Adamson in pressure-packed four sets

MANILA, Philippines—A motivated University of the Philippines Lady Maroons grounded the Adamson University Lady Falcons 3-1, 22-25, 25-21, 29-27, 34-32, in four nail-biting sets in the UAAP Season 77 Volleyball Tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena Wednesday evening.

UP finished it all of late after vital attacker Kathy Bersola fell down with a leg injury early in the fourth set with the scores at 8-7 in favor of the Lady Maroons.

Chester Ong, Bersola’s replacement in the middle, proved her mettle with an impressive tap to end the game and give UP a 3-4 win-loss card and a stunning upset on the third-seed Adamson which now has a 3-3 slate.

UP head coach Gerry Yee said they had to match their intensity levels when they danced with the defending champions Ateneo in five sets last Sunday and fortunately they did the job done even without Bersola.

“We were worried that we would not be able to match our intensity during our game against Ateneo,” Yee said whose Lady Maroons are the only ones to defeat the champions even if it was just in sets.

“It’s a good thing that we got this game and if we lose one player, this time Kathy, it’s a burden for us.”

Nicole Tiamzon gave UP the first matchpoint with a strike that went through the defense of Adamson, 24-23, but Amanda Villanueva, who vowed that she would spark the Lady Falcons, tied it at 24 with a well-placed tap.

Villanueva would virtually lift Adamson up but her airspace got bottled late when her error preceded Ong’s winner.

Yee said that what they have done in practice is finally getting duplicated in the games.

“All our hard work in practice is paying off,” Yee said.

Tiamzon, who proved her worth in the fourth set, paced the Lady Maroons with 22 points with Bersola putting up 13 before she got injured.

Angeli Araneta, Arianne Ilustre and Vina Alinas had 12, 11 and 10 points respectively.

Jessica Galanza was the high-point woman with 24 points while Mylene Paat and Villanueva had 19 and 15 respectively.