UAAP Volleyball: Lady Maroons fall to Lady Bulldogs, end season 0-14

The University of the Philippines Lady Maroons had a chance to snag their first win and end the season on a high note. The National University Lady Bulldogs denied them that chance. Myla Pablo had 16 points on 15 attacks as the NU Lady Bulldogs slammed the Lady Maroons, 3-1, Sunday, at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan, closing out both teams’ stints in the 74th UAAP women’s volleyball tournament.   UP opened the set with three straight unanswered points, a deficit which NU easily dismantled with three points of their own. Both teams breathed down each other’s necks, with Lucelle Bayron and Kai Nepomuceno producing for NU while Joyce Palad and South Ramos notched a couple for UP. Two spikes and a block by Ramos gave UP some leverage, but attacks from Pablo watered down what UP had built. The Lady Bulldogs then continued to pound on the floundering Lady Maroon defense en route to a 25-19 first set finish. The second set, however, was UP’s set, as the Lady Maroons found their offensive niche. Palad and Ramos kept Pablo’s combination plays in check. Pau Genido scored on three attacks for the Lady Maroons, including two straight to give UP some breathing room. When Pablo’s offense totally lost steam, UP took the set, winning 25-18. But that was UP’s last stand as both Pablo and Nepomuceno found the offensive groove they lost in the second set. UP’s defense, after showing terrific blocking early on, lost all poise as Ramos continued to give up open spikes and Alyana Abad failed to make receptions. UP came close in the third set, but fell 26-24, and were totally stripped down by the fourth set, 25-15. Pablo led the Lady Bulldogs with 16 points, followed by Nepomuceno with 15 of her own. Ramos racked up 15 points in a losing cause, while Palad and Genido added 11 points apiece. - AMD, GMA News SET SCORES: 25-19, 19-25, 26-24, 25-15