Lady Maroons shock Tams, near PVL crown

MANILA, Philippines — University of the Philippines rose from the jaws of defeat as it shocked Far Eastern University, 14-25, 22-25, 26-24, 25-18, 15-5 to close in on a breakthrough Premier Volleyball League Collegiate Conference Season 2 crown at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan last night.

The first-time finalist Lady Maroons were unfazed as they recovered from a 0-2 set deficit and a third set collapse en route to taking the opener of their best-of-three titular showdown.

UP took the third on an off-the-block hit by Roselyn Rosier and an attack error by Heather Guino-o to atone for a huge meltdown from 16-7 up then went on to dominate the fourth and fifth sets.

The Lady Maroons jumped the gun early in the fifth, opening up a 4-1 lead. FEU’s Celine Domingo exited the court on a right knee injury after that and UP raced to a 12-3 lead and never looked back.

The Lady Maroons will try to close it out on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the same venue as they eye their first title in the league.

Isa Molde, Marian Buitre and Rosier combined to carry the Lady Maroons from the brink of sweep to a sweep in reverse over a shell-shocked FEU side that came into the best-of-three finals oozing with confidence against a team making its first ever finals appearance in any women’s volley league.

But after yielding the first two sets in contrasting fashions, the Lady Maroons came out smoking in the third, bucking a late meltdown with a gritty stand then sustaining their momentum in the fourth to force a decider.