La Niña: Ytang rains career-high 30 as UP shocks NU dynasty

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Niña Ytang thrives as an unusual first-option middle blocker, exploding for a UAAP career-high 30 points as UP slays the once-undefeated defending champion NU in a five-set heart-stopper

MANILA, Philippines – If it were up to the UP Fighting Maroons, they’d in all likelihood decide to play every game at the FilOil EcoOil Centre.

Back at the San Juan City arena since their 2-0 start in UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball, the Katipunan squad once again made waves in their dark horse Final Four bid with a shocking 26-24, 23-25, 17-25, 25-23, 15-12 five-set escape of the once-undefeated NU dynasty on Wednesday, March 26.

With the win, UP broke a three-way deadlock to rise to a 4-5 record in fifth place, while the defending champions fell to an 8-1 slate, still in first place after snapping an 11-game winning streak dating back to last season’s Final Four Game 1 against FEU.

Niña Ytang made history on multiple fronts in the huge momentum-boosting conquest, raining down a UAAP career-high 30 points on 27 attacks and 3 blocks — most for UP since Tots Carlos’s 32 in 2018 and the most middle blocker points since NU legend Jaja Santiago in 2017.

“I got nothing, speechless. Bilog po talaga ang bola (The ball is round, anything can happen),” Ytang said.

“I said at the start of the fifth set, we’ve come so far. Why give up now? We just fought through, helped one another, and really persevered inside the court,” she added in Filipino.

Bouncing back from a blowout third-set loss with a fourth-frame squeaker, UP kept in step with NU in a nip-and-tuck decider, never going down more than two points and eventually seizing a 10-9 lead off a Joan Monares cross.

The Lady Bulldogs momentarily rose back up in the clutch at 12-11 off an Alyssa Solomon block on Monares, but the reigning Finals MVP was also responsible for gifting match point to the Maroons with crucial consecutive attack errors sandwiching Ytang’s 30th point, 14-12.

With all the pressure in the world to finish the story, Monares delivered the winning hit off an off-speed attack as the UP players collapsed on the court in jubilation at the final buzzer to celebrate their first win over NU since 2018.

Monares backstopped Ytang with 16 points in the huge victory, while fellow veteran hitter Irah Jaboneta scattered 10 points, 19 excellent receptions, and 13 digs.

Two-time MVP Bella Belen was still a leader in defeat, posting a team-high 21 points off 16 attacks and 5 aces plus 13 excellent digs and 12 excellent receptions for the triple-double finish, while Solomon scored 19 with 9 digs.

Unsung hero Shaira Jardio churned out 23 digs and 17 excellent receptions on the defensive end, while Vange Alinsug chipped in 16 points off 12 attacks, 3 aces, and a block for NU. – Rappler.com