After loss to UST, UP gets its act together and turns back San Sebastian

All eyes are on Marian Buitre of UP as she attempts to drive a point past Shannai Shane Requierme and Joyce Sta. Rita of San Sebastian.—AUGUST DELA CRUZ

University of the Philippines bolted back to contention after downing San Sebastian, 25-15, 25-13, 25-16, Wednesday in the Premier Volleyball League Collegiate Conference at FilOil Flying V Centre.

Marian Buitre and Lorielyn Bernardo each drilled in 10 points to power the Lady Maroons, who also got eight from Arielle Estranero, taking the slack from the usually high-scoring captain Isa Molde who was limited to just seven points.

Mary Bautista also stepped up for the Lady Maroons, with the outside hitter taking on a new role as libero.

“We worked on the passing so we had to introduce a different libero to help Rem (Altomea),” said UP coach Godfrey Okamu. Bautista came up with 10 excellent receptions.

“I think she (Bautista) held up pretty nicely and she is loud on court so that is what is needed for a libero,” Okumu added.

It was a big morale boost for the Lady Maroons, who suffered a 22-25, 25-20, 25-18, 26-24 defeat at the hands of the University of Santo Tomas Tigresses on Sunday.

But while UP was all out in climbing back to solo fourth spot, San Sebastian appeared to have lacked the necessary fight altogether, absorbing its fourth setback in as many matches to occupy the lowest rung in the standings.

Earlier, National University picked up its fourth win in as many games by beating UP, 25-13, 25-20, 23-25, 26-24, in men’s division.

The Maroons fell to 2-2.

Far Eastern University dealt Adamson its first defeat after scoring a 15-25, 25-19, 21-25, 25-23, 17-15 victory.

The Tamaraws climbed to 2-2, while the Falcons slid to 4-1.

San Beda survived Arellano, 25-23, 22-25, 25-23, 25-16, in the other men’s match to improve to 2-2, while inflicting a fourth straight loss on its victims.

The Lady Maroons were coming off a loss to the Tigresses, and saw their two-game run snapped. UP took the first set but could not match the intensity of UST the rest of the way.

Eya Laure, the up-and-coming star for the Tigresses and sister of club league star EJ Laure, had 18 points to spearhead the UST attack, which put the España-based club within a win of an outright semifinal berth in this tournament that serves as a preseason tuneup for collegiate squads.

Laure got ample help from Tin Francisco and Carla Sandoval who pumped in 16 and 12 points, respectively for UST.

UST, which is trying to regain its championship form after years of lethargy, displayed a measure of spunk after recovering from a first-set loss and taking the next two frames with plenty to spare.