UNIVERSITY of the Philippines overpowered Perpetual Help in the first two sets then rallied from five down in the third to fashion out a 25-10, 25-12, 25-23 victory and kick off its late campaign in the Premier Volleyball League Season 2 Collegiate Conference at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan last Saturday.
With veteran Isa Molde on the firing end, the Lady Maroons cruised past the hapless Lady Atlas in the first two frames before relaxing in the third, enabling the Las Piñas-squad to seize control three fourths of the way.
But Molde took charge and the Lady Maroons shattered the 23-all count on a drop shot and a kill, dealing the Lady Altas’ their third straight shutout loss in the mid-season conference of the league organized by Sports Vision.
Molde fired away eight kills and spiked her game-long brilliance with three aces and three kill blocks for a 14-hit output while seven other teammates scored at least four points. The incoming third year hitter also produced eight digs for the Lady Maroons, who opened their campaign one week after the start of the two-month long tournament backed by Mikasa and Asics serving as part of the field’s preparation for their upcoming respective leagues.
The Lady Maroons also parlayed the sloppy play of the Lady Altas, who had 24 errors.
Jowie Verzosa topscored for Perpetual with seven markers.
Earlier, Adamson survived two tough sets and repulsed a tough-fighting San Beda side, 25-23, 25-21, 29-27, to notch its third straight victory in men’s play of the mid-season conference of the league organized by Sports Vision and backed by Mikasa and Asics.
Geoffrey Alicando and Paolo Pablico combined for 26 hits while Leo Miranda added nine markers and George Labang and Royce Bello finished with eight points piece to underscore the Falcons’ balanced attack.
Franz Amburgo anchored the team’s offense with 30 excellent sets.
The Red Spikers actually measured up with the Falcons majority of the way but just couldn’t unleash a strong finishing kick or neutralize their rivals’ endgame charge to fall to their second straight defeat despite Pat Palattao’s game-high 17 points.
Perpetual Help, on the other hand, snapped a three-game skid as it repelled Far Eastern U 19-25, 25-22, 21-25, 25-18, 15-13, in the other men’s contest.
Joebert Almodel came away with 20 points and drew solid backup from Ronniel Rosales and Esmail Kasim, who combined for 22 markers.
The Tams fell to 0-2.