UP late-game surge falls short, falters against defending champs NU

University of the Philippines suffered its fifth straight loss after bowing down to defending champions National University, 12-25, 15-25, 25-15, 25-22 yesterday, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

From the beginning, NU made sure to check UP’s starters and be aggressive with their serves. After a shaky first set, UP head coach Carlo Cabatingan found stability in substitutes Tommy Castrodes and Angelo Lipata, who delivered instant points via off-the-block and running attacks.

By the third set, the Fighting Maroons had found their rhythm, cruising to an early 12-5 lead. Thanks to Louise Aballe’s ball distribution, Castrodes, together with Lipata, Olayemi Raheem, and Gelay Lagando were able to keep their distance, playing a perfect set with no errors, eventually snatching the set, 25-15.

Photos by UAAP Media

Unlike the first three sets where a team was able to establish a big lead early on, the fourth set was a seesaw battle, with both squads exchanging points. At 18 all, however, the Bulldogs went on a 4-0 run. Despite the Fighting Maroons’ efforts to keep the game close, a crucial service error by freshly-substituted Clarence Santiago gave the Bulldogs a 24-21 lead and eventually, the match.

Opposite spiker Raheem, who only scored three points in their last game against the UST Golden Tigers, top-scored for the Fighting Maroons at 16 points off 15 attacks and a block, while Castrodes assisted with 13 points with 12 attacks and a block, seven excellent receptions and three excellent digs.

Buds Buddin led the defending champions with 22 off 17 spikes, three aces, and two blocks, followed by Leo Aringo’s 16 markers from 12 attacks, two aces, and two blocks, and Leo Ordiales’s 14 points.

NU, who is on a two-game winning streak after losing last February 23 to the still-undefeated FEU Tamaraws, remains at solo second at 4-1. They will look to extend their winning streak when they face the Adamson Soaring Falcons on Wednesday, March 12, at 9 AM at the Mall of Asia Arena.

UP, on the other hand, stays at solo seventh at 1-5. They will look to snap their losing skid as they close the first round against Adamson on Sunday, March 23, at 11 AM, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.