KATIPUNAN is maroon, at long last, as the University of the Philippines battled back from 0-2 in sets to frustrate neighboring rival Ateneo, 17-25, 19-25, 25-22, 25-23, and 16-14 in UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The victory marked the Fighting Maroons' first win in the last 12 matches against the Blue Eagles, having last triumphed way back in the second round of Season 80 in 2018.
More importantly, retooled State U came out on top in its first two games for the second straight season and is now one of three remaining unbeaten sides, together with last year's finalists in National U and La Salle.
"I can write a book on this game," said UP head coach Fabio Menta.
"We found a way to play our own game because we were worrying too much about what was happening on the other side. When we found that kind of rhythm, that kind of game that we like more, we became more effective,” he added.
Three-time UAAP best middle blocker Nina Ytang powered University of the Philippines with 15 points on 11 attacks, three blocks, and two aces to lead the Fighting Maroons’ charge.
Captain Irah Jaboneta backed her up with 14 markers and eight digs, while debuting 18-year-old Nigerian opposite hitter Fina Ali delivered a strong showing with 13 points. Ali caught fire in the last three sets and scored four in the deciding fifth frame.
Casiey Dongallo also finished with 13 points, overcoming a slow start with an explosive eight-point surge in the second set.
Ateneo, meanwhile, leaned on the returning J.Lo delos Santos, who produced 21 points and 11 digs in her comeback from a near season-long injury layoff. She sparked the Blue Eagles’ opening-set win with eight points, fueling a decisive 5-1 run to seize early control.
That momentum carried into the second set as Ana Hermosura unloaded 19 points, Donna de Leon added 15, and Zey Pacia chipped in 14 to anchor a 12-5 blitz that put Ateneo on track for a potential breakthrough victory.
But UP responded with timely adjustments. The Fighting Maroons dominated the latter stretch of the third set and took command early in the fourth, with Ali’s entry providing a spark alongside Ytang’s steady presence to force a deciding fifth set.
Ateneo regained the lead midway through the tiebreak behind Hermosura’s push for an 11-10 edge, but UP countered with Dongallo’s clutch hit and an Ali blast to reach match point before Ytang sealed the win with a block.
After three failed attempts to secure an opening victory, Ateneo slipped to 0-2.
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