NU sends UP crashing out of Final Four contention in UAAP women’s volleyball

MANILA, Philippines—Pushing its momentum upward, National University removed University of the Philippines out of the Final Four picture, 25-21, 25-16, 25-15, in the last match of the UAAP Season 77 women’s volleyball tournament Sunday evening at the Arena in San Juan.

NU finished the elimination round at third place with an 8-6 win-loss card and prevented a three-way pileup for the fourth spot.

UP finished its season with a 5-9 record and will only watch as University of Santo Tomas and Far Easter University duke it out for last final four berth.

Lady Bulldogs head coach Roger Gorayeb said he was satisfied with how his team played, adding they are finally clicking into the system.

“The team played great, they did what I wanted them to do,” Gorayeb said. “Compared to our previous games, this may be the very best.”

“We’re happy here at the third spot but this is still a very dangerous semifinals.”

To make matters worse for the Lady Fighting Maroons, it was actually their team captain Nicole Tiamzon that ultimately ended their season.

Tiamzon’s first blunder, when her attack went directly to the block of Roma Doromal, gave NU the match point at 24-16 before her second, a strike which went long, gave the win to the Lady Bulldogs.

NU took total control of the third set by building a six-point lead, 13-7, with Jorelle Singh scoring off the UP block.

Gorayeb added that his team are treating every game in Final Four as a championship game.

“This is the championship, for us, every game is a championship game.”

Scoring was aplenty for the Lady Bulldogs with Jaja Santiago putting up 17 points with Myla Pablo adding 12 and Singh pitching in 10.

Tiamzon and Marian Buitre had eight apiece for UP.