The University of the Philippines (UP) Women’s Volleyball Team (WVT) capped off the first round of eliminations with a straight-set loss against the Adamson Lady Falcons, 18-25, 16-25, 19-25, on Sunday, March 15, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
After concluding the first round of eliminations with a three-game skid, the team believes it has much to improve on heading into the second round.
“Hindi talaga maganda ‘yong outcome. [Maraming] kailangang ayusin physically [at] mentally talaga,” senior Irah Jaboneta said in a post-game interview with Tinig ng Plaridel. “Siyempre, disappointed din ako sa pinapakita namin kasi ‘di ito ‘yong ginagalaw namin sa training.”
Jaboneta, originally an outside hitter, was first converted to a libero in the team’s match-up against the National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs. She returned to her position as outside hitter in their game against the University of Santo Tomas (UST) but was lined up as a libero once again in the round-ender against the Lady Falcons.
Head Coach Fabio Menta had more adjustments in his game plan, fielding three-time best middle blocker Niña Ytang as an opposite hitter and sophomore Kianne Olango as an open spiker in the first two sets.
But as the position shuffle resulted in a 0-2 deficit, Menta reverted to the squad’s original roles with Ytang returning to the middle, Fina Ali at the opposite and Joan Monares replacing Olango at the left pin.
The reset proved productive early in the third set as UP built a four-point lead, but Adamson quickly responded with back-to-back 4-0 runs, sparked by a one-two play from playmaker Fhei Sagaysay.
Both teams traded points, but the Lady Falcons ultimately pulled away and Frances Mordi sealed the match in favor of the San Marcelino-based squad, 19-25.
Moving forward, the team aims to focus on improving its on-court mindset as it prepares for the long mental battle ahead.
“It’s more on [the] mental [aspect] talaga eh. Kailangan talaga buong [team] lalaban, hindi puwedeng ‘enough na’ gano’n,” Jaboneta said.
In their straight set loss against Adamson, no Fighting Maroon breached the double-digit mark on the scoreboard.
Ali led the scoring effort for State U with eight markers off five blocks and three attacks, while Jelai Gajero and Joan Monares followed closely with seven points apiece.
Mordi led the charge for the Lady Falcons with 18 points off 17 attacks and a block.
Through UPs and downs
The Maroon volleybelles threaded through an early honeymoon phase, starting the season with a 2-0 record as they sped past the University of the East Lady Warriors and snapped their 11-game losing streak against the Ateneo Blue Eagles.
The Fighting Maroons’ early run abruptly ended with a grounded outing against the top-seeded De La Salle University Lady Spikers, losing the match in straight sets.
After being limited to just four markers in their duel against the league leaders, Ytang stood back up for State U in their match against the NU Lady Bulldogs, recording a season-high of seven blocks and handing the defending champions their first loss of the season.
Since then, the Diliman-based squad struggled to find its rhythm, dropping its matches against the Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws, UST Golden Tigresses and Lady Falcons.
Casiey Dongallo, one of UP’s leading scorers this season, will sit out the remainder of Season 88 due to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscus tears sustained during the match against FEU.
The Cebuana spiker is expected to return for her final season with the Fighting Maroons in Season 89.
“Nawala nga si Casiey [pero] hindi ibig sabihin [noon] na susuko kami. So ilalaban namin ‘yong game para sa kaniya rin po,” Jaboneta said.
State U finished the first round as the sixth seed with three wins and four losses.
The squad looks to regain its momentum as it opens the second round against the NU Lady Bulldogs on Wednesday, March 18, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
UP WVT Round 1 Set Scores:
vs UE (3-1): 25-12, 25-9, 21-25, 25-19
vs ADMU (3-2): 17-25, 19-25, 25-22, 25-23, 16-14
vs DLSU (0-3): 12-25, 15-25, 19-25
vs NU (3-2): 16-25, 16-25, 25-22, 31-29, 18-16
vs FEU (0-3): 13-25, 21-25, 16-25
vs UST (1-3): 25-16, 13-25, 19-25, 20-25
vs Adamson (0-3): 18-25, 16-25, 19-25
