MANILA -- The well-oiled University of the Philippines (UP) Lady Maroons opened their UAAP Season 79 women's volleyball tournament campaign on a winning note after pummeling the young Adamson University Lady Falcons, 25-18, 25-11, 25-18, at the Araneta Coliseum Sunday.
The Lady Maroons were too much for Adamson as they dominated the game in all departments with 27 total attacks, and eight blocks, compared to just 20 attacks and four blocks for the Lady Falcons.
Graduating Cathy Bersola led UP with 11 points, including six service aces, while reigning rookie of the year Isa Molde and Diana Carlos added 10 and 11 markers.
"Confidence-booster itong panalo na ito para sa amin. Maganda ring exposure ito para sa bago naming setter na si Arielle Estranero," Bersola said.
Down by a single point after the first technical timeout in the third frame, the Lady Maroons dropped an 11-3 run, highlighted by two aces apiece from Nicole Tiamzon and Estranero, to create an 18-11 cushion.
Carlos hammered an uncontested in-the-middle hit followed by an ace from Bersola to move 20-12 in the third set. Adamson then committed crucial unforced errors to put UP at match point.
Marian Buitre sealed their straight sets win with a drop ball in the right side of Adamson's side.
Bernadette Flora led the Lady Falcons with a point shy of double digits, while team captain Gemma Galanza was limited to just six points in the match.
UP stepped on the court with high energy, dropping a 9-0 bomb, in the middle of the first frame with Molde unleashing powerful spikes along with three aces of Bersola for a 19-7 lead.
The Lady Maroons then showed relentless offense in the second set, opening it with a 9-2 spurt, capped by an off-the-block spike of Carlos.
They widened this gap into a 14-point advantage after back-to-back points of Bersola and an ace of Tiamzon to make it 22-8.
Despite this, UP head coach Jerry Yee downplayed their whopping victory, stressing that Adamson is a relatively new team while his crew also committed a few miscues.
"Happy tayo, of course. A win is a win and straight sets pa, so masaya tayo. Pero 'yug mga lapses natin [nandoon pa rin], nagre-relax tayo na hindi puwede kapag beterano ang kalabang team," Yee said.
Yee also ignored the expectations from his squad.
"Dead-ma na kami sa expectations, talagang hindi proportionate. Always, people will expect more so, I always tell my girls 'yung key points of improvement pag nakuha natin 'yun, okay na sa amin," he said.
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