UNIVERSITY of the Philippines coach Jerry Yee felt that Ateneo’s first loss in two years got into the defending champion’s head.
And Yee got it all right as his young Lady Maroons dealt an uninspired Lady Eagles another shock loss, 19-25, 25-22, 25-17, 25-22, yesterday in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament at Filoil Flying V Arena.
“They couldn’t execute their plays,” Yee said of the Lady Eagles, who just last week, took their first defeat in 25 games from rival La Salle. “With all due respect, that’s not their A-game.”
UP’s star rookies Isa Molde (15 points) and Diana Carlos (12 points) took charge in their thorough dismantling of the Lady Eagles.
“They haven’t lost in a while, so I’m sure they had some doubts. And that’s what I sold to the girls,” Yee said after UP handed Ateneo its first consecutive losses in three years.
Ateneo fell into a share of the top spot with La Salle at 6-2, while UP rose to third at 5-3.
National University forged a three-way tie at the fourth spot with a 4-4 slate following a 25-18, 25-12, 25-18 rout of Adamson.
Myla Pablo and Jaja Santiago teamed up for 27 points to help the Lady Bulldogs arrest a three-game slide.
“We need this to bring back our confidence,” said NU coach Roger Gorayeb.