In UAAP Season 87, something unexpected happened for University of the Philippines (UP) ended a big winning streak! They surprised everyone by beating the defending champions, National University (NU), in an exciting five-set match at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
The UP Fighting Maroons showed amazing determination and never gave up winning with scores of 26-24, 23-25, 17-25, 25-23, and 15-12. This was a huge moment for UP because it was their first win against NU since 2018. Their victory also stopped NU from sweeping the tournament, making the competition even more exciting for all the teams.
UPSET ALERT 🚨 The UP Fighting Maroons (4-5) dealt the NU Lady Bulldogs (8-1) their first loss of the season, leaving no more undefeated teams in the women’s division: 26-24, 23-25, 17-25, 25-23, 15-12. #UAAPSeason87 #volleyball
— Volleytrails (@volleytrails) March 26, 2025
📸 Jemill Ferrer | The UAAP Media Team pic.twitter.com/RmVl9genYF
UP started the game with a bang, showing they were ready to win. Even though NU had a chance to take the first set at 24-23, UP didn’t give up. They went on a 3-0 run to turn things around. Niña Ytang smashed two strong attacks, and NU’s Alyssa Solomon made a mistake, helping UP secure the first set.
Ytang was unstoppable right from the start. She scored 11 of her career-high 30 points in just the first set! Her amazing performance reminded fans of former UP star Tots Carlos, who once scored 32 points in a match against UST in Season 80.
NU lost the first set, but they didn’t give up. As defending champions, they fought back and won the next two sets with strong attacks and great teamwork. They took control and won 25-23 and 25-17 making it look like they were on their way to another victory.
But UP wasn’t ready to lose. In the fourth set, they played harder and stayed aggressive. It was a close fight, but UP won 25-23 pushing the game into a final fifth set. With the momentum on their side, the Fighting Maroons saw their chance to win.
In the last part of the game, UP stayed calm while NU had trouble getting back on track. The Lady Bulldogs, usually very steady, made mistakes under pressure. Joan Monares made the winning move with a smart, soft hit that surprised NU’s defense giving UP a huge victory at 15-12.
This win didn’t just stop NU’s perfect season it also ended their 11-game winning streak, which started last season when they became champions. It was also the first loss for NU under their new head coach, Sherwin Meneses.
The electrifying match set social media abuzz, with fans expressing their excitement and disbelief over the unexpected outcome:
“UP STUNS NU! The Fighting Maroons end the Lady Bulldogs’ perfect run in a 5-set epic. #UAAPSeason87 just got wild—#UPFight breaks the streak!”
“The UP Fighting Maroons pulled off the biggest upset yet in UAAP Season 87 against defending champion NU, handing the Lady Bulldogs their first loss of the season.”
“Niña Ytang and Joan Monares reflect on UP's stunning five-set triumph over defending champion NU. Ytang fired 30 points on 27 attacks and 3 blocks, while Monares contributed 16 attack points.”
This loss has significant implications for the tournament. With no team remaining unbeaten, the race for the championship has become even more competitive. NU will have to regroup and refocus if they want to defend their title successfully while UP will look to build on this momentum and push for a strong finish in the season.
For the Lady Bulldogs, this defeat serves as a wake-up call. The defending champions will need to reassess their strategies and bounce back stronger in the coming matches. Meanwhile, UP’s confidence is at an all-time high, proving that they can go toe-to-toe with the best teams in the league.
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