Lady Maroons outlast Falcons in UAAP volley

MANILA, Philippines — Tots Carlos and Ayel Estranero provided the finishing as University of the Philippines outlasted Adamson University, 25-18, 14-25, 25-19, 21-25, 16-14, to get back on track in the UAAP season 80 women’s volleyball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan yesterday.

Carlos came through with back-to-back hits and Estranero punched in the clincher as the Lady Maroons wiped out a 13-14 deficit in the fifth set and forced a tie for fifth with its opponent at 3-5.

The victory enabled UP to bounce back from a straight-set 23-25, 23-25, 17-25 loss to National University the last time out as well as avenge a 9-25, 25-27, 20-25, loss to the Lady Falcons early in the first round.

AdU, meanwhile, fell to its second straight loss following a shock 22-25, 25-22, 25-19, 20-25, 13-15 loss to University of the East in its previous outing.

“We were trying not to lose twice against the same team. Our passing also improved. We are trying to polish our weak points but we’re still building one game at a time,” said UP coach Godfrey Okumu.

“I would like to thank the UP fans because they really drove us. They gave us the power and the energy to get the work done,” added Okumu.

The Lady Maroons actually held a 12-10 lead in the decider but were dragged into another back-and-forth stretch by the Lady Falcons, who seized the lead twice, 12-13-  and 13-14, before Carlos rallied UP and Estranero to finish it off.

Carlos smashed 22 points on 20 hits and two blocks, Isa Molde swung 18 points, Marian Buitre turned in 12 while Estranero logged seven she spiked with 31 excellent receptions and 12 digs.

Jessica Galanza, Chiara Permentilla and Mylene Paat led the Lady Falcons with 19, 17 and 14 points, respectively.

The trio, together with Eli Soyud, teamed up in a 4-1 tear for AdU down the stretch, with Paat’s hit putting it one up, 13-14, before Carlos quickly responded with an off-the-block hit.