Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
University of the Philippines survived a tough showing by College of St. Benilde to claim the match in three sets, 26-24, 27-25, 29-27, in the Premier Volleyball League Collegiate Conference Wednesday at Filoil Flying V Centre.
The Lady Maroons remained in the fourth spot of the standings with a 3-2 record while the Lady Blazers are at 1-4 and are barely hanging on to their semifinals hopes.
Isa Molde put up a team-high 18 points to lead the Lady Maroons, who are without the injured Diana Carlos.
UP’s march in the third set was similar to what happened in the previous two with the Lady Blazers pestering the Lady Maroons until the final points.
The Lady Maroons held a 22-18 lead but Marites Pablo tied the set at 22 before Ayel Estrañero got called for an error that gave Benilde a 23-22 lead.
Estrañero then, had another mistake when she touched the net that put Benilde up, 26-25, but that was just the precursor to Molde’s late-game heroics.
Molde tied the set at 26-26 with a crosscourt kill then put UP at the 28-27 match point with another kill.
“My team made very juvenile mistakes a team like UP should not be making,” said UP head coach Godfrey Okumu. “That’s why the game was long and we had many chances that if we executed quickly the game would’ve been over quicker.”
“The team we played against was not an easy team and it gave other teams before a hard time. We have to accept that they’re not just here to play but they’re here to compete and win.”
Molde finished things off with a service ace after Felicia Cui failed to put the ball over the net.
Rookie Nicole Anne Magsarile added 10 points to UP’s cause.
Klarisa Abriam fired a game-high 20 points to lead the Lady Blazers.