UNIVERSITY of the Philippines spoiled Shai Nitura’s milestone of setting a new UAAP women’s volleyball scoring record as it nipped Adamson, 25-15, 15-25, 24-26, 25-22, 15-10, to close out the first round campaign on a high note at the Smart Araneta Coliseum yesterday.

Although Nitura rewrote the new league scoring mark of 38 points, it was Irah Jaboneta who stole the show in the deciding set to help the Fighting Maroons snap a four-match winning streak.

Now in solo fifth, UP improved to 3-4, just a game behind fourth-running Far Eastern University (4-3) in the race for the last Final Four spot. It was the Fighting Maroons’ first win since stunning the Tamaraws on Feb. 19.

Jaboneta unloaded seven of her 19 points in the fifth set, including the match winner. Her push shot went through the Lady Falcons’ blockers gave the Diliman-based side the hard-fought win.

“Siguro given na ‘yun si Nitura possible talaga can score that many points, even more pa depende sa close ng laro pero with UP, tulong tulong talaga kasi ‘yun ‘yung binabantayan namin sa kanila, kapag may nawawala doon sa plano, binabalik lang namin sila kasi we need to work as a group talaga,” said coach Benson Bocboc.

Jaboneta struggled in the early goings but delivered when mattered.

“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 collected 12 digs and 11 receptions.

Middle blocker Niña Ytang, who made her return after missing the past two matches due to an abdominal strain, led the Fighting Maroons’ balanced scoring with 20 points on 15-of-25 attacks, three blocks and two servive aces.

Joan Monares added 15 points, 17 digs, and 14 receptions, while UP rookie Kianne Olango also scored 15 points.

Nitura delivered a monster performance of 35-of-88 kills and three service aces to break the old 35-point mark logged by former Ateneo standout Alyssa Valdez and University of Santo Tomas ace Sisi Rondina.

Curiously, the records set by Valdez on January 20, 2013 and Rondina on March 20, 2019, also ended up in defeats.

Barbie Jamili also made her presence felt with 18 points and 10 digs while rookie setter Fhei Sagaysay tossed in 30 excellent sets for Adamson.

The Lady Falcons dropped their fourth consecutive match for a 2-5 record at joint sixth with the Blue Eagles.

Five-peat-seeking NU continued its mastery of UST, 16-25, 25-20, 25-21, 29-27 win to end the men’s first round in second spot.

UP negated Jude Aguilar’s 27-point effort to arrest a five-game skid with a gritty 20-25, 25-18, 26-24, 25-20 win over Adamson.

The Bulldogs extended their winning run to four matches to finish the first round at 6-1. NU’s lone loss of the season came at the hands of Far Eastern University, which completed its first 7-0 sweep in the first round since 2019.

“Pasalamat ako sa response lagi ng team ko na every time na meron kaming challenges sa sitwasyon, first set talaga hirap na hirap kami maka-receive, siguro natiyaga lang namin. Importante lang makakuha kami ng momentum, pagdating ng second set nagtuloy-tuloy yung gusto naming mangyari,” said Bulldogs coach Dante Alinsunurin.

Rookie playmaker Jeffe Gallego made his second consecutive impressive game with 21 excellent sets and four points, spreading out NU’s offense. Leo Aringo logged 13 points and seven digs while Jade Disquitado, a first-time starter this season, produced 12 points and 16 receptions.

Despite dominating the spiking department, 61-42, the Golden Spikers shot themselves on the foot by committing 39 errors.

UST fell in a tie with La Salle and Ateneo at 4-3.

The duo of Nigerian spiker Raheem Olayemi and rookie Tommy Castrodes led the Fighting Maroons in chalking up their second win in seven matched for sixth spot.

Olayemi had 22 points on 18-of-38 kills and four blocks while Castrodes came through with 17 points, 23 receptions, and 14 digs.

“In terms of improvement, I think the five losses and even the first game, they were our six steps to learning so we took each game as a learning experience for us. Adjustments were taken every game until we find the right timing, right tempo for the team to play this well,” said UP coach Carlo Cabatingan.

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Theodore P. Jurado