UST outlasts La Salle in five

c/o UAAP Media Team

UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Standings

Team W-L
NU 3-0
AdU 2-1
UST 2-1
UP 2-1
FEU 1-2
Ateneo 1-2
DLSU 1-2
UE 0-3

Games on Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena

10 a.m. - UST vs AdU (Men’s)
12 p.m. - NU vs UE (Men’s)
2 p.m. - UST vs AdU (Women’s)
4 p.m. - NU vs UE (Women’s)

UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas rediscovered its confidence when it mattered most, carving out a 25-12, 22-25, 13-25, 25-23, 15-13 escape over De La Salle University in the UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Tournament at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Wednesday.

The Golden Tigresses notched their second straight win for a 2-1 record, joining the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons and Adamson University Lady Falcons for second.

This is also UST’s fourth straight win against La Salle after sweeping their three matchups last season including the Final Four.

It was another epic match-up between two of the league's storied programs in front of 6,539 fans at the Pasay venue.

“What a great match, credits din sa La Salle for playing well din. Sa game naman, talagang pagdating ng fifth set sabi nga namin, talagang ano lang, kung sino talagang may gustong manalo, siya yung makakakamit ng panalo” said UST deputy coach Yani Fernandez.

Tied at 23-all in the fourth, Golden Tigresses’ Angge Poyos and Regina Jurado sent the game to a deciding set with back-to-back hits.

An attack that sailed out by Angel Canino followed by a crucial Marga Altea dump off an over-received ball gave UST a 13-11 lead in the fifth although Shevana Laput responded with a drop ball to inch La Salle closer.

Jurado then attacked anew, connecting on a smart placement shot off a combination play to give the Golden Tigresses the match point, 14-12.

Bianca Plaza’s service in the ensuing play however went long giving the Lady Spikers a chance but libero Pia Rodriguez, in an attempt to lift a second ball, was called for a double contact violation to give UST the victory in two hours and 31 minutes.

The Golden Tigresses went out of the gates firing, taking the first frame 25-12 and even took a 18-12 advantage in the second.

However, the Lady Spikers rallied back with a 13-4 burst in the second to tie the game at one set apiece before taking that momentum to the third for a 25-13 win to move a set away from the victory.

“Sa game na ito, talagang ipinakita lang talaga namin kung ano kami and yung composure namin sa court yun talaga ang nagdala saka yung communication. Nawala man kami nung second set pero bumalik lang kami sa sistema at nagtiwala lang kami sa isa’t isa,” said Poyos, who unleashed 28 big points on 24 spikes, three blocks, and an ace along with 16 digs.

Jurado added 17 points while Altea made 10 points.

Two-time Best Libero Detdet Pepito shone brightly defensively with 24 excellent digs and 16 excellent receptions while reigning Best Setter Cassie Carballo steered the offense with 22 excellent sets along with two points.

UST will shoot for a third straight win on Saturday when it faces Adamson at the same Pasay venue.

La Salle started the tournament 1-2 for the first time since Season 68 (2006). It is now tied with Far Eastern University and Ateneo de Manila University for fifth.

Angel Canino did everything for the Lady Spikers, tallying 25 points on 21 attacks, three aces, and a block she laced with 17 excellent digs and 16 excellent receptions.

La Salle aims for a bounce back on Sunday against UP, also at the MOA Arena.