MANILA – University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons ended the first round of the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball with a 25-21, 25-20, 20-25, 25-17 beating of University of the East Lady Warriors on Sunday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Stephanie Bustrillo delivered 24 points, on 22 attacks and two service aces, to go with seven excellent digs as the Fighting Maroons snapped their six-game losing skid to improve to 1-6.
Bacolodnon Joan Marie Monares and Antiquena Irah Jaboneta contributed 12 markers apiece, Pling Baclay had seven blocks to end up with 10 points, while Dannica Celis also finished with 10 points for UP.
After failing to close out the Lady Warriors in the third set, the Fighting Maroons pulled away from a tight start in the fourth frame to establish a 24-17 lead on a Monares attack before they finished the game with a service ace from Bustrillo.
“I just want to thank my players for trusting the process and the system, you know it is very hard to win in the UAAP these days, tumataas na ang level ng (competition sa) UAAP, but they did not stop working hard,” said UP head coach Oliver Almadro.
“Napakasarap na manalo uli, napakahirap manalo and wearing this maroon shirt and winning for the Maroons really means a lot,” added the former Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles mentor.
Casiey Dongallo top-scored with 26 points, on 23 attacks, two blocks, and a service ace, Kayce Balingit added 14 markers, while Riza Nogales added nine markers, including five blocks, as the Lady Warriors dropped to 1-6.
Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws put on a dominant blocking display against Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles, clinching a 25-22, 22-25, 25-13, 25-21 triumph.
The Lady Tamaraws finished with a season-high of 15 blocks, with four each coming from Faida Bakanke and Gerzel Petallo, as they closed the first round of eliminations in fourth place in the standings with a 4-3 win-loss slate.
“Doon sa 15 blocks na ‘yun, ‘yun talaga ‘yung pinractice namin at pinag-aralan namin na dapat naming gawin kapag kalaban ang Ateneo,” Lady Tamaraws head coach Manolo Refugia said in a post-game interview./PN
