UAAP: Ateneo extends dominance over UP with five-set escape
Ateneo Blue Eagles celebrate after beating UP Fighting Maroons in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament.–UAAP PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–Ateneo outlasted University of the Philippines (UP), 15-25, 25-23, 27-25, 30-32, 16-14, in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament on Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena.
Lyann de Guzman typified the effort of the Blue Eagles with 25 points as the Blue Eagles tied the Fighting Maroons and the Adamson Lady Falcons with similar 3-5 slates.
“Sabi ko nga sa [teammates] like bago pa maglaro na ibigay lang lahat kasi wala namang mawawala samin and we just need to give our 110 percent,” said De Guzman, who had 23 attacks, 14 excellent digs and 17 excellent receptions.
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“Hindi namin makukuha tong panalo na to kung lahat kami hindi magta-trabaho and I am very proud of my teammates kasi napakita nila na kaya nila and nag-step up ang everyone,” she added.
The win was Ateneo’s 11th consecutive victory over UP–a streak that began in Season 81.
With Taks Fujimoto dishing out 26 excellent sets, other Ateneo spikers were also able to get to work like AC Miner who contributed 19 points out of 17 kills and two blocks, other than 10 excellent digs, and Zey Pacia who added 13 points.
“All I can say is grabe yung effort ng isa’t isa actually habang naka-pila kami naiiyak ako kasi na-realize ko na lahat nagtrabaho this game and kitang-kitang ko kung pano ayaw tumigil ng lahat and gusto talaga namin makuha tong win na to,” Miner said.
Jihan Chuatico delivered 12 points on 10 attacks and a pair of blocks while Yvana Sulit had 11 points, all but one from kills. Fiona Arroyo caught 10 excellent digs.
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Neither team refused to give its opponent any breathing room as the game went down the wire.
UP also showed and had five players in double-digit scoring led by Niña Ytang’s 24 points. Ytang also tallied four blocks.
Irah Jaboneta added 20 points, Joan Monares recorded 18 points while Kassandra Doering and Kianne Olango chipped in 15 and 13 points, respectively. Jaz Manguilimotan, meanwhile, dished out 16 excellent sets in the two-hour and 41-minute match.
Jaboneta was also present on defense with 10 excellent digs and 13 excellent receptions while libero Capistrano had 26 excellent digs and 11 excellent receptions.
Ateneo aims for a third straight win next Saturday against Adamson at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Fighting Maroons face defending champion National University next on Wednesday at Filoil EcoOil Centre.
