UP FIGHTING MAROONS — UAAP/JEMILL FERRER

UNIVERSITY of the Philippines (UP) spoiled Shaina Nitura’s record-breaking performance with a 25-15,15-25, 24-26, 25-22, 15-10 come-from-behind win to snap a four-game skid at the close of the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball first round on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Niña Ytang and Irah Jaboneta delivered when it mattered the most, spearheading the Fighting Maroons’ scattered onslaught especially in the decider to neutralize the 38 big points of the super rookie Ms. Nitura and improve to 3-4 entering the second round.

Ms. Nitura’s output erased the previous UAAP women’s record of 35 points set by legends Alyssa Valdez of Ateneo de Maila University (2013) and Sisi Rondina of University of Santo Tomas (2021) but to no avail as Mses. Ytang and Jaboneta combined for 39 to foil it.

Ms. Ytang scored 20 on 15 hits, three blocks and two aces, versatile Ms. Jaboneta added 19 on 19 attacks laced by 12 digs and 11 receptions, none bigger than the lefty soft touch in the fifth set to seal the win that put the Fighting Maroons on the Final Four doorstep at fifth spot.

UP could have not done it with Mses. Ytang and Jaboneta alone, needing 15 points each from Kianne Olango and Joan Monares, who also added 17 digs. Julia de Leon quarterbacked UP’s engine with 17 sets while libero Giesha Capistrano provided 17 receptions.

That proved to be more than enough to bring UP over the hump, sparked by a 25-22 win in the fourth to forge a rubber, where it blitzed to an 8-5 start off a Ms. Jaboneta hammer at change court.

Ms. Nitura, as expected, tried to trade fire by fire with the Fighting Maroons after dropping a courtside hit to strike within 10-12 but Mses. Ytang and Jaboneta came through with the finishing touches to ice the gutsy win.

Ms. Nitura, who also set the UAAP rookie record in her debut with 33 points against Ateneo, drew 18 points from Jimy Jean Jamili but no other player scored in double digits as Adamson University absorbed its fourth straight loss at 2-5.

In the men’s division, four-peat champion National University (6-1) kept its mastery of Santo Tomas (4-3),16-25, 25-20, 25-21, 29-27, in their finals rematch as UP (2-5) beat Adamson (1-6), 20-25, 25-18, 26-24, 25-20. — John Bryan Ulanday