UP stuns Ateneo to stay in Final Four race

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

University of the Philippines remained in the Final Four hunt after pulling off a stunner over semifinals-bound Ateneo, 28-26, 25-23, 26-24, in the UAAP Season 80 women’s volleyball tournament Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena.

The Lady Maroons hiked their record to 5-8 and took sole possession of the sixth seed while the Lady Eagles saw their five-game winning streak snapped to settle for a 9-4 record.

From a 19-14 deficit in the third set, the Lady Maroons stormed back to tie the set at the vital 24-24 score line after Marist Layug denied Jhoanna Maraguinot.

UP then took the 25-24 match point after libero Ponggay Gaston and Kat Tolentino failed to get in tune on who will get the ball over to the Lady Maroons’ side.

Diana Carlos then finished off the Lady Eagles with a thundering crosscourt kill.

UP’s Final Four hopes, although still in full swing, will still depend on if National University, which holds a 6-6 record and sits at the fourth seed, will lose its remaining games.

Lady Maroons head coach Godfrey Okumu, however, said his team will finish strong whatever the situation.

“We will finish strong, that’s what we came to do and that’s what we did and I hope on the coming game we would do the same and finish strong,” said Okumu.

Carlos lit Ateneo up with 22 points to lead the Lady Maroons while Isa Molde added 13 points.

Maaraguinot was the lone Lady Eagle who finished in double digits while Tolentino, who averaged 20 a game prior to the UP game, had seven.