UP bucks cold start, thwarts Perpetual in Super League

MANILA, Philippines – University of the Philippines bucked a cold start to repel upset-conscious University of Perpetual Help, 10-25, 25-23, 22-25, 25-15, 15-10, in the Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Pre-season Championship on Sunday, October 2,  at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Alyssa Bertolano and Ethan Lainne Arce played the heroes’ role for the Fighting Maroons in the fifth set to snap the Lady Altas’ two-game winning run and start their campaign on a high note in Pool A of the collegiate preseason volleyball tournament

With UP trailing 1-2 in the match, Bertolano and Arce fueled the Maroons’ revolt in the fourth set to create a comfortable cushion and build momentum heading into the deciding frame.

“I told them to forget everything that happened in the first four sets, execute our game plan, and not commit the mistakes we did in the previous sets. Good thing they responded positively,” said new UP coach Shaq delos Santos.

Back-to-back aces from Bertolano gave UP a 4-1 lead to start the fifth set before the Lady Altas rallied to tie it at 7. The Fighting Maroons answered with a 6-2 counter sparked by a Bertolano hit.

Rookie Shaila Omipon stopped the bleeding for Perpetual but Arce delivered the finishing blows by hammering down a quick attack followed by a game-winning ace.

Arce had 14 point while Bertolano scored 10 for UP. Marianne Sotomil got 18 markers for the Fighting Maroons and Kamille Cal got 12.

Perpetual, which slid to a 2-1 win-loss record, got 15 points from Omipon and 14 markers from Winnie Bedana.

In the second game, Adamson bounced back mightily from an opening-day loss as the Lady Falcons vented their ire on hapless San Sebastian College, 25-10, 25-14, 25-18, in Pool B.

Adamson capitalized on its height advantage and power to easily demolish the Lady Stags and rebound from a five-set loss at the hands of unbeaten University of Sto. Tomas last week.

San Sebastian dropped its second straight match in as many games following another straight-sets loss to the Tigresses on Saturday. – Rappler.com