The UP Lady Fighting Maroons beat the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Tigresses 25-21, 23-25, 25-21, 25-22 in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 84 women’s volleyball tournament on May 10 at the Mall of Asia Arena. Working as a team on the court, UP firmly took the first set. Encarnacion. Photo from the UAAP Media Bureau In the second frame, UST started strong and cruised to a 24-19 lead. UP fought back and scored four consecutive points to come within one point until UST’s Ysabel Jimenez scored an attack to equalize the match. Tables were turned in the third set as the UP Lady Fighting Maroons, with better communication and strong net defense, zoomed to a 24-18 lead. UST, led by Eya Laure, however, was able to save three set-points until a setting error, by UST’s Ma. Regina Mangulabnan, gave UP a 2-1 set lead. Bertolano. Photo from the UAAP Media Bureau The two teams had a see-saw battle at the start of the fourth frame, but UP put a separation down the stretch through a service ace by reserve setter Jum Marie Gayo, that had the Fighting Maroons within two points, 23-19, from clinching the victory. Laure then scored two consecutive points for UST.  In the next rally, UP’s Allysa Bertolano found a hole on UST’s defense through a power tip to put the Fighting Maroons at match point, 24-21. Laure once again rescued UST by scoring on a drop ball to cut UP’s lead to two, 22-24. In the ensuing play, Laure’s attack was rejected by Lorie Bernardo, sealing UP’s third straight victory. The UP Lady Fighting Maroons volleyball team. Photo from the UAAP Media Bureau It was a total team effort and balanced attack for the UP Lady Fighting Maroons led by Jewel Encarnacion’s 16 points, 14 excellent receptions, and 11 excellent digs. Bertolano also had a splendid game, contributing 15 points built from 10 attacks, three blocks, and two services aces. Bernardo, Jaila Atienza, and Niña Ytang chipped in nine points apiece for UP. The Fighting Maroons will take on the Adamson University on May 12, Thursday, at 4 p.m.

The UP Fighting Maroons defeated the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) Blue Eagles in overtime, 81-74, to take game one of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 84 men’s basketball best-of-three finals on May 8 at the Mall of Asia Arena. Trailing by eight points, 60-68, at the 4:35 mark of the fourth quarter, the Fighting Maroons slowly but surely crawled their way back, clamping down on the Blue Eagles. It was there where Zavier Lucero rose to the occasion and took matters in his own hand by scoring seven points in that crucial 10-2 run of UP. Lucero got the offensive rebound of a missed jumper from Carl Tamayo and scored on bank shot to cut ADMU’s lead to six, 68-62, with two minutes and 11 seconds left. He then scored on a transition lay up to put UP within striking distance, with 1:17 remaining. Raffy Verano then scored on a jumper to give ADMU a separation, 70-64, with 54 seconds to go. Lucero. Photo from the UAAP Media Bureau In the ensuing play, Tamayo muffed his two free throws, but Lucero was able to grab the offensive rebound and scored an and-one play to put UP within three points, 67-70, with 32.6 tick to play. The Fighting Maroons then, with their suffocating defense, forced the Blue Eagles to commit a turnover which resulted in a three-point shot by James Spencer that knotted the score, 70-70, still with 24.7 seconds left. UP again played good defense to force ADMU to commit a shot clock violation. Ricci Rivero, with 0.7 seconds left, missed his far-flung three-point attempt to send the game to an extra five minutes. Rivero. Photo from the UAAP Media Bureau At the 3:48 mark of the overtime, Lucero drained a triple to even the score, 74-74. ADMU then committed back-to-back shot clock violations, while Rivero scored on layup and drew a foul from ADMU’s Gian Mamuyac. Rivero sank his bonus free throw to put UP ahead, 77-74, with two minutes and 31 seconds to go. ADMU, again, committed another turnover and Tamayo scored on a layup to stretch UP’s lead, 79-74, with 2: 04 left. Spencer. Photo from the UAAP Media Bureau The Fighting Maroons continued their good defense and held the Blue Eagles scoreless in the dying moments of the game. With three seconds left to play, Rivero sealed the game for UP by draining his two free throws on a duty foul committed by Verano. Five Fighting Maroons scored in double digits: Rivero, who had an impressive 11-of-11 from charity line, paced UP with 19 points, four steals, two blocks, and two assists; Lucero chipped…

The UP Fighting Maroons survived the gritty Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws, 25-12, 25-22, 24-26, 29-27,15-11, in Season 84 of the UAAP (University Athletic Association of the Philippines) women’s volleyball tournament on May 7 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay. Bertolano. Photo from the UAAP Media Bureau The Fighting Maroons looked to register a quick victory after winning the first two sets in a dominating fashion but came flat down the stretch of the third set. Ahead by five points, 22-17, the Fighting Maroons committed consecutive errors and faulty receptions giving the Lady Tamaraws the win in the game’s third frame. In the fourth set, UP was on the brink of wrapping up the game by establishing a three-match point advantage but lost steam and fell apart anew, sending the match to a decider. Jaboneta. Photo from the UAAP Media Bureau UP regrouped in the decider and established a commanding 11-3 lead, keeping FEU at bay. However, the Lady Tamaraws fought back to cut UP’s lead to three, 13-10. In the next rally, UP’s Alyssa Bertolano scored on an attack to put the Fighting Maroons at match point, 14-10. In the ensuing play, FEU’s Chen Tagaod blocked Bertolano’s spike before the latter finished off the game through a combination play. UP Fighting Maroons women’s volleyball team. Photo from the UAAP Media Bureau Bertolano again paced the Fighting Maroons with 25 points, 11 excellent receptions, and 10 excellent digs. Irah Jaboneta also had a superb game collecting 13 points, 14 excellent receptions, and 12 excellent digs, while Lorie Bernardo and Jewel Encarnacion chipped in 13 points and 12 points, respectively. The Fighting Maroons now has a 2-0 record. UP will take on the University of Santo Tomas on May 10, Tuesday, 10 a.m.