End-game mishaps continue to prove costly for the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons as they began their second round campaign with double losses against the defending champions National University (NU) on Wednesday, March 18, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Both teams are reeling from a losing spell, with the men’s team holding a 2-6 record and currently sixth in the standings, while the women’s team ranks fifth with a 3-5 slate.
No end in sight
A third win remains elusive for the UP Men’s Volleyball Team (MVT) as it failed to grab a win in its second-round campaign opener with a straight-set loss against the six-peat-seeking NU Bulldogs, 19-25, 14-25, 19-25.
State U extended its losing streak against the Jhocson-based squad to 15, dating back to the second round of Season 78.
The defending champions showed early dominance as they orchestrated a 3-0 run against UP, courtesy of an opening sequence service error from Maroon middle blocker Abram Robles and two points from an ace and an attack from NU standouts Michaelo Buddin and Leo Ordiales.
Despite the Bulldogs committing 10 errors compared to the Fighting Maroons’ six, the Diliman-based squad struggled to convert offensively, tallying only nine points off eight attacks and a block in the first set.
Defensive and offensive woes continued to plague the Maroons as the Bulldogs secured another set. They limited the Fighting Maroons to just 14 markers, with four points coming from NU’s errors.
State U attempted to extend the match in the third set, mounting a late 4-1 run anchored on consecutive attack points from Maroon outside hitter Tommy Castrodes to trim the deficit to 19-23.
But UP remained too far behind to pull a comeback, as the Bulldogs closed out the match with back-to-back blocks.
Amid the strings of losses, Castrodes remains optimistic as they prepare for their next matchup against the University of the East Red Warriors on Sunday.
“I am expecting na maganda ‘yong result this Sunday. I think we need to [learn from] our mistakes,” the Maroon winger told Tinig ng Plaridel. “Ensayo lang ulit. Ipo-polish lang ‘yong errors.”
Castrodes also emphasized the need for the team to improve communication on and off the court.
“For me, communication [ay] mahirap siya [ma-master]. Actually kasi [dapat] nagsa-start ‘yon sa training, [sa mga] bonding [at] team dinner,” he said. “[K]ailangan ma-practice [‘yong] communication inside and outside the court.”
Current league top scorer Olayemi Raheem led the Diliman-based squad’s scoring efforts with 12 points from 11 attacks and a block, while Castrodes chipped in nine markers.
Meanwhile, Alas Pilipinas members Buddin, Ordiales and Jade Disquitado powered the Bulldogs to a bounce-back victory with a combined 41 points.
Still on the hunt
The UP Women’s Volleyball Team (WVT) fell short of completing a season-sweep against the defending champions, NU Lady Bulldogs, in another five-set thriller, 26-24, 17-25, 25-21, 18-25, 8-15.
Head Coach Fabio Menta continued to make adjustments in his starting lineup, fielding Kianne Olango as an outside hitter, reverting Niña Ytang as a middle and sticking with Irah Jaboneta as a libero.
Despite falling short, State U pushed the defending champions to a fifth-set duel once again, this time without star player Casiey Dongallo to lead the firepower.
The opening witnessed a close showdown, but the Lady Bulldogs pulled away with a three-point advantage late in the set, 18-21.
After a UP timeout, momentum swung back to the side of the maroon shirts, with Jelai Gajero sealing the early advantage, 26-24.
UP’s net defense proved to be a threat early in the second set as Gajero, Bienne Bansil and Fina Ali scored consecutive block points to spark a 5-0 run.
However, the Jhocson-based squad regained the lead, 12-13, after Arah Panique’s consecutive attack points and team captain Vange Alinsug’s solo block.
Gajero and Olango attempted to rally their squad by firing off-the-block hits, but a rotation error proved costly for State U before super rookie Sam Cantada delivered the final blow to clinch the set, 17-25.
After trailing in the opening stretch of the third, UP regained momentum as the hot-handed trio of Gajero, Olango and Ytang chipped in six points each.
Cantada and Gajero exchanged attack points to bring a tight score at 22-21, but Maroon middle blockers came in clutch with Bansil’s back-to-back points and Ytang’s quick hit at the middle, closing out the set, 21-25.
The Lady Bulldogs refused to go home just yet as Cantada erupted with 10 points in the fourth set alone to force a decider, 18-25.
State U took an early 5-2 advantage in the fifth but NU quickly equalized the set with an attack by Alinsug and back-to-back blocks from playmaker Abe Pono.
The Diliman-based squad hoped to repeat a familiar scenario of clutching points in the crucial stretch of the fifth set but was unable to claw back from an 8-11 deficit, as Pono and Cantada delivered the final blows to close the match, 8-15.
Despite the loss, Gajero, Olango and Jaboneta stepped up to log double-double performances to lead the maroon effort.
Gajero contributed 22 points and 14 excellent digs, Olango put up 20 points and 13 excellent receptions, while Jaboneta continued to anchor the team’s floor defense, putting up 21 excellent digs and 22 excellent receptions.
Middle blockers Ytang and Bansil chipped in 13 markers apiece.
On the flip side, rookie Cantada recorded a career-high of 32 points from 27 attacks, three blocks and two aces.
Both teams aim to return to the win column as they face the University of the East on Sunday, March 22, at the same venue.
