On a mission, Lady Maroons take down defending champs

Diana Carlos. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—University of the Philippines has just one goal in the UAAP Season 81 women’s volleyball tournament and that’s to win its first UAAP championship since 1982.

The Lady Maroons took a huge step into that direction when they took down defending champion De La Salle in five sets, 21-25, 25-20, 25-21, 20-25, 15-12, Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Captain Diana Carlos said her team’s championship desire was in full display against the Lady Spikers and beating the defending champions gave UP a huge morale booster for the rest of the season.

“My teammates and I really had that will to win and that was our main asset today,” said Carlos in Filipino Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum. “We want to beat La Salle, we want to win in this league, we want to become champions, we want to get to the finals. And I think our willpower led us to the win.”

UP and La Salle were locked in a pulsating back-and-forth that stretched to 8-all in the fifth set.

The Lady Maroons found a bit of reprieve when Isa Molde scored two in a row that Jessma Ramos followed up with an ace to give UP an 11-8 cushion.

And although La Salle managed to make it 12-12 of off Mae Luna’s quick kill, the Lady Maroons were able to recover for the next three points including a free one from the Lady Spikers.

Carlos found an open spot in the back line for UP’s 13-12 lead just before Luna’s erroneous attack that put the Lady Maroons at match points, 14-12.

Justine Dorog then, finished things off with an off-speed kill for UP’s third win in four games to tie La Salle atop the standings.

Carlos, however, said that they should immediately move on from the win and focus on what’s ahead—a matchup with another perennial powerhouse in Ateneo.

“This was a must-win for us and this was a very strong team, they’re not the defending champions for nothing so we have to focus immediately for our next game,” said Carlos, who had 19 points.

“We have to focus on our next game and also think about the next round and how we can beat them again.”