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UAAP volleyball: Carlos, Molde ready to carry the scoring load for UP

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Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/sports/03/01/up.jpg"/><figcaption>UP&#x27;s Isa Molde (10) beats the UST blockers. Josh Albelda, <a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/uaap/volleyball/photos">ABS-CBN Sports</a></figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines – Sisi Rondina has performed so well for University of Santo Tomas (UST) in UAAP Season 80 that it seems unimaginable for her to be outplayed by an opposing spiker.Even when the Golden Tigresses fell short, Rondina would put up sterling numbers. She memorably hung 28 points on defending champion De La Salle University in a five-set war in their season opener; she then proceeded to outscore Jaja Santiago, 25-19, when UST played National University last Sunday.Yet Rondina was outshone on Wednesday when the Tigresses faced off against University of the Philippines (UP), which features not one, but two talented open hitters. Rondina still got her numbers – she matched her season-average with a 23-point output -- but it was the UP tandem of Diana &quot;Tots&quot; Carlos and Isa Molde that stole the show.Carlos was simply spectacular. The third-year spiker scored a career-high 32 points on 27 kills, three blocks, and two aces. She went swing for swing with Rondina and came out on top, even tallying a single block on the explosive UST star that had the UP crowd on its feet.So superb was Carlos that she nearly overshadowed her own teammate&#x27;s effort. Molde, the Rookie of the Year in Season 78, had a season-best 24 points of her own. It was a breakout game for Molde, who normed only 11.4 points per game in UP&#x27;s first five contests but was nearly unstoppable against the Tigresses.With the two third-year spikers leading the way, UP claimed a 31-33, 25-23, 25-16, 25-12 victory over UST, snapping a four-match losing streak in the process.<figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Wrb7CoeOVVE?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="~//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="~//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>&quot;Nakakapagod matalo,&quot; said Carlos. &quot;So kailangan namin lumaban.&quot;<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/uaap/news/2018/02/28/uaap-volleyball-feu-takes-nu-first-time-season-38303">READ: FEU takes down NU for first time in season</a></li></ul>Carlos and Molde were the only UP players in double-digits against UST, with Maris Layug as their next leading scorer – with only seven points. Marian Buitre had six points, but four of those came off kill blocks. Rose Cailing also had six markers – four of which came from service aces.Apparently, this was by design. New UP coach Godfrey Okumu stuck to his 4-2 rotation against UST, meaning that the Lady Maroons were virtually playing with two setters and only four hitters every time. The tactic put the brunt of the scoring load on Molde and Carlos, while their middle blockers concentrated on defending at the net.&quot;Pina-prioritize kasi ni coach &#x27;yung sa middles, gusto niya mag-block talaga,&quot; Molde explained. &quot;Siguro, pag maganda &#x27;yung receive, doon magpe-play (for the middle blockers).&quot;The game plan worked like gangbusters against UST. Ayel Estrañero, a former libero, took on the role of the second setter while also shoring up their reception. After entering the game as the worst receiving team in the league, the Lady Maroons posted a 46.67% success rate on their reception and gave up only five aces.Moreover, they registered a whopping 14 blocks in the game, with Layug tallying five rejections by her lonesome. UST, as a team, only had three kill blocks.And they went to their ace spikers at every possible opportunity, with Molde and Carlos responding by putting up their best scoring games of the tournament so far.&quot;We thought it would work,&quot; Okumu said of his new rotation. &quot;I believe it will continue working, because it&#x27;s like having two liberos on the court, and two setters at the same time. I&#x27;ll use it if it will work.&quot;&quot;That&#x27;s the piece that we are missing,&quot; added the Kenyan coach, who replaced Jerry Yee as UP&#x27;s mentor ahead of Season 80.This just means that Carlos and Molde will have to continue to carry the scoring responsibilities for UP in Season 80, a challenge that the two Lady Maroons have already accepted.&quot;Kailangan namin tanggapin eh, kasi wala naman ng iba,&quot; said Carlos in a matter-of-fact tone.&quot;Si Ayel, defense and set. Sino pa ba ang aatake, &#x27;di ba?&quot; she pointed out. &quot;So, kailangan naming akuin &#x27;yung trabaho namin, &#x27;yung binigay na role sa amin, para magawa namin &#x27;yung mga gusto niyang ipagawa sa amin,&quot; concluded Carlos, who has now scored 120 points in Season 80 – just behind Rondina and Santiago in the scoring race.Molde, for her part, said their triumph over UST will boost their confidence – and give them the belief that they can keep on performing at a high level for their school.&quot;Sa next games, sana magawa namin &#x27;yung mga nangyari ngayon,&quot; she said.UP concludes its first round schedule on Sunday against National University. For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.

With the two third-year spikers leading the way, UP claimed a 31-33, 25-23, 25-16, 25-12 victory over UST, snapping a four-match losing streak in the process.

With the two third-year spikers leading the way, UP claimed a 31-33, 25-23, 25-16, 25-12 victory over UST, snapping a four-match losing streak in the process.

UAAP volleyball: Carlos, Molde ready to carry the scoring load for UP

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UAAP volleyball: Carlos, Molde ready to carry the scoring load for UP

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 01, 2018 02:21 PM PHT

Read More:

UAAP

volleyball

UP Lady Maroons

Tots Carlos

Isa Molde

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