Resurgent UP upsets La Salle in thriller to keep Final Four aspirations alive

University of the Philippines pulled off another huge upset, outlasting De La Salle University in five sets, 26-24, 18-25, 19-25, 25-22, 16-14, to keep its UAAP Season 87 women's volleyball Final Four dream alive on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The troika of Joan Monares, Kassandra Doering, and Kianne Olango fronted the fight for the Fighting Maroons as they improved to 6-6 while the Lady Spikers fell to 8-4 for joint second with UST.

Monares shone with 16 points while middle blocker Doering chipped in 15 markers built on 12 attacks and three blocks. Rookie opposite spiker Olango was also huge with 14 points, highlighted by three aces.

The win was UP's first against La Salle since Season 81 in 2019, ending a seven-game losing streak to the Lady Spikers.

UP reached the match point when Amie Provido made a fault serve, but La Salle forced a 14-all deadlock when Angel Canino back-to-back points on a crosscourt hammer and a rejection on Olango.

But UP found the finishing kick when Doering unloaded a heavy quick play while Monared buried the game-winning attack on a down-the-line kill.

La Salle, which ended a three-game winning streak, banked on Shevaba Laput and Canino as the former collected a team-high 27 points and the latter grabbed 25 markers.

Meanwhile, defending champion National University made quick work of Ateneo de Manila University with a 25-16, 25-15, 25-21 behind usual suspects Bella Belen, Erin Pangilinan, and Alyssa Solomon.

Belen listed 16 points, 10 digs, and 13 receptions for yet another all-around outing while Pangilinan chipped in 12 points. Solomon, who returned after a two-game absence, chipped in 11 points.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News