UP stops slide, downs Adamson for share of 4th spot

UP Lady Maroons. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—University of the Philippines stopped its two-game skid after upending Adamson University, 25-27, 25-14, 25-12, 25-21, to end its first round campaign in the UAAP Season 81 women’s volleyball tournament Sunday at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

The Lady Maroons hiked their record to 4-3 to get a share of the fourth spot with Far Eastern University.

Adamson, meanwhile, dropped to 1-6 tying University of the East at the bottom of the standings.

UP managed to shrug off the first set defeat with a couple of convincing victories in the second and third set but things nearly ended in disaster in the fourth when the Lady Falcons seemed poise to create another upset.

The Lady Maroons held a commanding 24-17 lead in the fourth set but the Lady Falcons came knocking with Chiara Permentilla converting on an off-the-block kill to trim the deficit to 24-21.

Maristela Layug, however, has seen enough and her off speed kill ultimately ended Adamson’s comeback attempt.

“Today we won but our finishing wasn’t that good, it wasn’t up to the standard we want to have,” said UP head coach Godfrey Okumu.

“We led in the second and third sets but the fourth set was challenging but we managed to finish.”

UP’s star hitters Diana Carlos and Isa Molde led the charge for the Lady Maroons with 14 points apiece while Layug added 11.

Bernadette Flora put up 15 points to lead Adamson.