Lady Maroons trip Red Spikers in opener

MANILA, Philippines – UAAP Rookie of the Year Isa Molde came away with 15 hits as University of the Philippines toppled San Beda, 25-20, 25-17, 25-20, yesterday at the start of the Shakey’s V-League Season 13 Collegiate Conference at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.

Benefitting much from their stint in the recent Open Conference of the league sponsored by Shakey’s where they finished joint fifth, the Lady Maroons fended off the Lady Red Spikers’ challenge by coming through with strong finishing kick in all three sets to complete the sweep in 62 minutes.

Molde spiked her game-long brilliance with 13 attack points while skipper Katherine Bersola, Justine Dorog, Nicole Tiamzon and Diana Carlos combined for 30 points for the Lady Maroons, who outhit the Lady Red Spikers, 38-31.

Tiamzon led the team in defense by coming through with three blocks for an eight-point output that included three aces while Mae Angeli Basarte stepped up in her new role as starting setter and dished out a game-best 39 excellent sets while chipping in two hits.

The Lady Red Spikers, playing in the league where it all started for the first time as part of their buildup for the NCAA wars, kept the game close majority of the way in each set but just couldn’t match the Lady Maroons’ big finish anchored on Molde.

Francesca Racqaquin turned in a game-high 16-hit performance while Nieza Viray backed her up with nine points and guest player Wenneth Eulalio had eight but the rest struggled in the face of the Lady Maroons’ superb all around game in a match aired live over ABS-CBN Sports + Action Channel 17 and 23 and over HD TV Ch 166 and via live streaming on sports.abs-cbn.com.