HISTORY repeated itself in España.
For the second straight year, the University of the Philippines handed defending champion National U its first loss in another gripping five-setter.
The Fighting Maroons staged a stunning 16-25, 16-25, 25-22, 31-29, 18-16 reverse sweep of the Lady Bulldogs in UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball on Saturday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
Staring at defeat in the fourth frame, State U erased four match points against a Sam Cantada-less NU side and forced a decider behind a clutch Bienne Bansil block on rookie Den Daylisan.
Three Lady Bulldogs match points then had to be erased in the tiebreak, before Bansil again delivered the goods with a power hit that would draw UP level with NU in the team standings at 3-1.
The Fighting Maroons shut the door on the Lady Bulldogs' hot start to their title defense with a season-high 19 blocks in the match.
“I'm not sure everybody understands what we do every day at UP. We work very hard and we're trying to understand that volleyball is like life. Some days are good, some days are bad. You never give up. You come back stronger until it works,” said head coach Fabio Menta.
“Today was the best example that we could have these girls to grow up mature as women also, not only as players. I think we are on the right path to do good things.”
Best game of UAAP Season 88 so far
National U looked firmly in control early.
The blue-and-gold cruised through the first two sets, winning the opener by 11 points before pulling away with a decisive 9-2 run in the second to move within striking distance of a sweep.
But the UP had other plans. After all, it had beaten the Lady Bulldogs in five sets before and were coming off a reverse sweep of Ateneo the previous week.
And so, the Fighting Maroons seized control in the third with a commanding 21-13 lead.
NU threatened a comeback behind Chams Maaya and Vange Alinsug, who trimmed the deficit to 21-20, but the maroon-and-gree held its ground to extend the match.
The fourth set turned into a thriller.
UP erased a 19-12 deficit and cut the gap to 21-20 before a gripping extension unfolded.
The Lady Bulldogs reached match point four times, but the upstarts from Diliman refused to yield and finally claimed the frame, 31-29, in the longest set of the season so far.
The deciding set was just as chaotic, as the Jhocson dynasty appeared poised to escape after building a 13-9 cushion behind rookie Den Daylisan, only for the Fighting Maroons to respond with nine of the last 12 points to complete the stunning comeback.
Casiey Dongallo and Jelai Gajero led UP with 20 and 19 points, respectively, with the latter also adding 11 receptions.
Veteran middle blocker Nina Ytang anchored the defense with seven blocks to highlight an 18-point performance, while Bansil added five blocks in her 10-point outing.
Skipper Joan Monares chipped in five points and six receptions in her debut after sitting out the first three games with a back injury.
National U was dealt a major blow entering the fourth frame super rookie Cantada exited in Set 3 at the 13-20 mark due to an apparent right shin issue. She finished with 10 points built on four aces, three attacks, and three blocks along with seven receptions.
Alinsug paced them with 20 points, nine digs, and six receptions, while Arah Panique added 18 markers and Alexa Mata contributed 14.
Maaya scored 11 points, Daylisan had seven, and Lams Lamina produced 19 excellent sets and six points in two-time defending champions' fifirst loss of the season.
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