University of the Philippines withstood Shaina Nitura’s UAAP women’s volleyball tournament record 38 points and pulled off a thrilling 25-15, 15-25, 24-26, 25-22, 15-10 win to close the Season 87 first round on a high note at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday.
Although Nitura did set a new league scoring mark, it was Irah Jaboneta who stole the show in the deciding set.
The third-year spiker out of De La Salle-Zobel fired seven of her 19 points in the fifth set with the final point the most important.
Jaboneta’s push shot went through the blockers to give UP the hard-fought, spoiler win after two hours and 25 minutes.
The Fighting Maroons’ valiant fightback that denied Nitura a happy ending for the day snapped a four-game slide to end the round at solo fifth with a 3-4 record.
“Nadala lang din ako as a senior sa loob ng court, hindi puwedeng tahimik ako. Bigla rin akog nabuhayan na kailangan makita nila akong lumalaban para alam na lalaban din sila, sabay kami lalaban para sa team,” said Jaboneta, who completed her well-rounded game with 12 excellent digs and 11 receptions.
Middle blocker Niña Ytang, who made her return after missing the past two games, led UP’s balanced scoring with 20 points on 15-of-25 attacks, three blocks, and two aces.
Joan Monares added 15 points, 17 digs, and 14 receptions, while Kianne Olango also had 15 points in the win.
Nitura delivered a monster performance of 38 points on 35 spikes and three aces, surpassing the 35-point records by former Ateneo standout Alyssa Valdez and University of Santo Tomas main gunner Sisi Rondina.
Coincidentally, the records by Valdez (Season 75, 2013) and Rondina (Season 81, 2019) also ended up in losses.
Valdez’s Ateneo lost to Adamson on January 20, 2013, 22-25, 21-25, 25-19, 25-16, 10-15, while Rondina’s UST bowed to Ateneo on March 20, 2019, 25-19, 25-22, 25-27, 22-25, 11-15.
