Amid tight Final 4 race, Lady Maroons taking it one game at time

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Reigning UAAP rookie of the year Isa Molde said University of the Philippines should stop worrying about a potential Final Four entry in the UAAP Season 79 women’s volleyball tournament and just take it a game at a time.

The Lady Maroons are still in contention for a spot in the semifinals amid a tight race as they sit with a 6-5 record with three games left in their schedule.

“Our mindset right now is to just play every game and not think about the Final Four,” said Molde after UP trumped Adamson University 25-15, 25-16, 25-20, at Filoil Flying V Centre. “We just have to play and hopefully we can win some games, if not we’ll train harder.”

READ: UP breaks slump in UAAP volleyball, dumps UE

Lodged in the middle of the dable, UP is in a tough predicament as National University (7-4), University of Santo Tomas (6-4) and Far Eastern University (5-5) are all on pace to take either the third and fourth seeds.

League leaders Ateneo (9-2) and De La Salle University (8-2) are practically sitting in prime real estate atop the standings as the first and second seeds.

Molde, despite not putting much emphasis on a potential semifinal appearance, added they have to improve as the season progresses into its final stretch.

READ: Pia Cayetano: ‘Strongest’ UP team has chance to make UAAP Finals

UP was unstoppable in its first four games of the season dropping just one set, against UST, to take the top spot with a 4-0 slate.

Everything, however, went downhill for the Lady Maroons as they lost five of its next seven.

“We can’t be stuck to where we are right now, we have to constantly keep improving,” said Molde.