BY Andrei Barrantes
A surprise for the ages unfolded on Wednesday, as UAAP Season 87’s current seventh-ranked squad the University of the Philippines outlasted previously undefeated defending champion National U in a five-set thriller.
READ: UPset: Fighting Maroons put first blemish on Lady Bulldogs record
At the center of this unbelievable yet impressive shocker of a win was two-time second-best middle blocker Niña Ytang who pounded in 30 points on 27 attacks and three blocks.
This eruption marked the first time in seven years that a State U spiker breached the 30-point mark since now-PVL star Tots Carlos back in 2018.
And more importantly, this gives the Fighting Maroons bragging rights of smudging the Lady Bulldogs' once-spotless slate, throwing the possibility of a season sweep out the window as well.
According to Ytang, the bounce back win was an overwhelming surprise for her and her teammates - and she was just grateful to have overcome her nerves to secure the victory.
“Actually po, aamin ko po talaga. Kinakabahan po talaga ako kanina nung fourth set. Pero kinuha po ako ni coach [Benson Bocboc] kanina tapos kinausap niya ako sa gilid na ‘wag mo ipakita na mado-down ka sa loob ng court kasi mado-down yung buong team," she said.
"Laban lang, wag magpakita ng weakness talaga kasi isa ako sa mga inaasahan sa loob ng court.”
This was UP’s third straight five-set match, and fourth overall this season. With so many extended matches under their belt, the co-captain said that the team has finally embraced the mentality of having nothing left to lose.
“Sobrang grateful talaga sa naging resulta ng game. Teamwork lang talaga yun eh. Andito na tayo, ibigay na natin lahat, wag na tayo magtira. We have everything to gain, there’s nothing to lose,” she said.
“Hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin ko. Iiyak ba ako, matutuwa ba ako, sisigaw ba ako? Kasi very surprising talaga yung result ng game. And talagang anything is possible.”
Ailing, but ever-fighting
Even though she has been averaging 24.6 points since returning from a two-game absence, Ytang is still nursing a lingering abdominal strain that saw her sit out their first-round meeting with NU.
“Andyan pa rin siya konti, pero gumagaling naman siya. Thank God nagsu-survive naman ako sa game. Rehab lang nang rehab,” she said..
Although Ytang is the only Fighting Maroon currently dealing with an injury, the squad has actually been through the ringer with these consecutive five-settters.
In their previous uber-extended game, in fact, the exhausted Diliman squad saw two players fall to cramps in Irah Jaboneta and Yesha Capistrano.
According to Ytang, extended matches have been their achilles heel thus far this season, and those matches always put their conditioning to the test.
“Very challenging talaga yung mga ganung laro kasi unang-una, pagkatapos ng laro kailangan namin isipin kung paano kami magre-recover,” she told SPIN.ph.
“Hirap talaga kami sa conditioning. Kasi nga diba sabi ko fifth set yung mga games namin, eh kailangan talaga magpahinga after ng game. Ice bath, masahe, tulog, lahat ng pwedeng supplements na pwedeng i-take, ite-take kasi hindi pwedeng maglaro ka diyan ng hindi ka pa nakaka-recover.”
After dismantling FEU early in the first round then taming the Lady Bulldogs, the Fighting Maroons have proven that they can compete with the best of them - and it may very well be just a matter of time before they turn into Winning Maroons.
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