THE UST Golden Tigresses returned to the winning column after a 25-12, 25-18, 22-25, 25-19 victory over the Adamson University Lady Falcons in the UAAP Season 79 women’s volleyball tournament at the Arena in San Juan Saturday.
The Ateneo de Manila Lady Eagles snapped the Tigresses four-game winning streak in the previous game.
Four Tigresses scored in double digits as UST (6-4) improved to third place and kept Adamson (0-10) winless in 10 games.
Down 15-24 in the fourth set, the Lady Falcons fired four straight points to threaten a comeback but a down-the-line kill from team captain Cherry Rondina, who had a game-high 18 points, ended the game.
EJ Laure chalked up 14 points for the Tigresses while teammates Ria Meneses and Pam Lastimosa added 11 points apiece.
“Nananalo kami pero di pa rin ganoon kaganda ‘yung nilalaro namin. Hinahayaan ko silang maglaro ng maramdaman naman nilang maglaro nang sila sila na lang muna,” UST head coach Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes Jr. said.
“Isa lang ‘yung gusto naming ipakita sa mga player na talagang ‘Pag di kayo nagtrabaho, tatalunin kayo,’” he added.
The Tigresses were primed to win via sweep but the Lady Falcons, who were tied at 20-all with UST in the third set, scored four straight points to reach match point and eventually took one set.
Jema Galanza and Joy Dacoron notched 16 and 11 points, respectively, in the losing effort.
The Tigresses will face the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws on March 25, Saturday, at the same venue.
“Turning point tong game na ‘to [against FEU], kasi kami ng FEU, UP at NU, iisa lang ‘yung hulma namin e. Kailangan talagang ayusin namin, otherwise, may kalalagyan kami pag nagpabaya,” Reyes said.
