Madayag rues ‘basic errors’ in shock loss to UP

Ateneo was the hottest team in the league before it faced University of the Philippines.

The Lady Eagles have strung together five straight wins and haven’t lost a game the whole second round, but the Lady Maroons needed just three sets to put the breaks on the streaking gang in blue-and-white.

Although Ateneo is on its way to the Final Four, the three-set loss could prove dangerous for the Lady Eagles, who are trying to build enough momentum heading into the semifinals.

Captain Maddie Madayag said they failed to display the consistency needed to beat UP after the three-set loss, 28-26, 25-23, 26-24, and the loss left them searching for answers with just one game remaining on their schedule.

And one area Madayag looked into were the “basic errors” they committed against a relentless Lady Maroon offense.

“I think the basic errors happened, I think no one was talking and like I said before we need to work on our consistency,” said Madayag in Filipino Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena.

Ateneo committed 22 errors, 12 less than what the Lady Maroons tallied, but there was one miscue that proved crucial for the Lady Eagles.

After the Lady Maroons turned back Jhoana Maraguinot at the net, the ensuing rebound fell near the vicinity of Ponggay Gaston and Kat Tolentino who both lunged, at the same time, at the ball.

Both made contact but the tangling of arms caused the ball to go straight to the net and give the Lady Maroons a 25-24 lead in the third set.

Before those happened, though, the Lady Eagles held a 19-14 lead and allowed UP to tie the third set at 19-all.

“When it got tied at 19, we were in disarray and UP then took the lead,” said Madayag, who had eight points.