‘NU’ more upsets, this time.
National U had to dig extra deep to fend off an undermanned University of the Philippines, 24-26, 25-17, 21-25, 25-18, 15-8, in UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Sam Cantada typified her super rookie tag with a clutch performance beyond her years, turning in 32 points, 18 receptions, and 13 digs.
In delivering the first 30-piece of the season in a game that was personal for her, she more than made up for missing the last two sets in their five-set loss to the Fighting Maroons back in the first round due to a right shin injury.
The Lady Bulldogs kept hold of the No. 2 spot at 6-2, winning five of their last six to avoid any early slip-ups in their Final Four chase.
State U, on the other hand, has now lost four in a row, including five of their its six to drop to 3-5.
“Nagiging mas mataas na ‘yung pressure, mas kailangan nang manalo, at ang dami talagang factors na we need to manage,” said head coach Regine Diego.
“This was a good comeback from our loss [to La Salle] and hopefully, tuloy-tuloy siya.”
Arah Panique provided ample support behind Cantada’s monster game, finishing with 19 points built on 15 attacks and four blocks. Chams Maaya also came through in key moments with nine points, while skipper Vange Alinsug added six points and 13 digs.
UP-and-down, goes NU
UP, even without Casiey Dongallo, came out determined to prove its first-round shocker was no one-off. And though it was missing one of its biggest weapons, Jelai Gajero stepped up and delivered, hammering in the hit that extended the opening set.
NU, however, restored order in the second behind a relentless Cantada, who powered the them back to level terms.
The Fighting Maroons regained control in the third, as Bienne Bansil and Niña Ytang, who both scored 13 points, delivered the finishing blows to put them back in front.
But that edge quickly vanished in the fourth.
Cantada erupted in a 10-point burst to drag the blue-and-gold back into the match, then carried that momentum into the decider where they broke away with a 7-1 start that shut down any hopes of another UP escape act.
Former NU-Nazareth School standout Kianne Olango, making her first start as a winger, impressed with 20 points and nine digs, but her effort ultimately went for naught, as Gajero paced UP with 22.
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