UAAP volleyball: UP stays in Final Four race after shocker over NU

UP Maroons. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

University of the Philippines managed to defy adversity to stay in the race for the Final Four after putting National University in a stunner,  25-18, 25-22, 25-20, in the UAAP Season 80 women’s volleyball tournament Wednesday at Filoil Flying V Centre.

The Lady Maroons jumped to a 4-8 record and in the process allowed University of Santo Tomas, which also holds a 4-8 card, to stay in the hunt for a semifinals spot.

The Lady Bulldogs, meanwhile, dropped their fifth straight game and have yet to find a victory in the second round.

After UP took a 17-13 off Jaja Santiago’s error, the Lady Bulldogs trimmed the deficit to just one, 17-16, courtesy of Roselyn Doria’s kill.

The Lady Maroons, however,  promptly raced to a 7-2 run that Abigail Lim capped off with a service ace for UP’s 24-18 match point.

Jessma Ramos then finished off the Lady Bulldogs with a well-placed quick attack.

With UP’s schedule down to two remaining games, head coach Godrey Okumu said he wants his team to finish the tournament strong and get the slightest of chances to take a semifinals spot.

“We want to finish strong, so maybe that’s why I’m here [in the post-game press conference], we want to finish the season strong,” said Okumu.

“We’re a team in progress, we’re still building. On a good day we can beat any team but sometimes because of the process of building we have to accept some collateral damage. Sometimes we lose, sometimes we win.”

Diana Carlos put up 18 points to lead the Lady Maroons while Isa Molde added 10.

Santiago had 19 points to lead the Lady Bulldogs, who slipped to a 6-6 record and are clinging on to that fourth seed in the tournament.