UP survives UE in five-set UAAP opening game

“GAME! #AtinTo. Ito na ang araw na pinakahihintay natin… ang pagbabalik ng UP Lady Maroons! Kakaharapin nila ang beteranong UE Lady Warriors, 2PM sa Filoil Flying V Centre!” (Photo: UP WVT Lady Fighting Maroons/Facebook)

The two-time preseason champions struggled during the beginning of the game with the Lady Warriors winning 2-1 for the first three sets. However, Isa Molde and Tots Carlos performed for their team; Molde with 19 kills, two blocks, and two service aces totalling 23 points and skipper Carlos with 17 hits. Jessma Ramos scored the game-winning shot as well. For UE, only Judith Abil was able to deliver a double-digit scoring with 20 points and 21 excellent receptions. Her teammate, Kath Arado on the other hand, chipped 32 digs and 18 receptions.

“Nothing comes easy,” UP Head Coach Godfrey Okumu shared about their victory, “We played as a team and that’s why we were able to get the last two sets,” elaborating, “We’re trying to play against a libero who can get most of our balls. It’s hard to play against a very strong defense so we have to think of how we execute, even in our spiking,” referring to UE star and 2018 Philippine Superliga (PSL) Collegiate Grand Slam and All-Filipino Conference Best Libero awardee Kath Arado.

On their opponents, Coach Godfrey reported, “They’re a good team. You’ll see them in the next years to come. They’re not an easy team,” adding, “The sets we won, we won with ease, but the ones we lost, we struggle. I hope we can put this behind us and move forward to our next game.”

The Lady Maroons will attempt to continue their roll on Wednesday, February 20, facing Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws, while the Lady Red Warriors will go head-to-head against National University (NU) on Saturday, February 23.