THE UST Lady Spikers captured a record fourth Shakey’s V-League title with a resounding 25-18, 25-20, 25-22 sweep of arch-rival San Sebastian College Lady Stags in Game 3 of their best-of-three finals showdown last June 17 at the Arena in San Juan.
“I did not expect that the game would be decided by just three sets. I just told them to focus and not to relax too much because if you gave San Sebastian a chance to pull away, we would surely pay the price,” coach Cesael delos Santos told the Varsitarian.
Coming off a morale-boosting 25-21, 25-22, 25-23 victory in Game 2 to extend the series, the Lady Spikers went on an early rampage, posting a 14-7 first-set lead anchored on the superb playmaking of tournament Best Setter and Finals MVP Rhea Dimaculangan who made 73 good set-ups to teammates Mary Jean Balse, Michelle Carolino and Aiza Maizo that set the UST juggernaut in motion.
UST found itself trailing, 2-5, at the start of the second canto. But the Lady Spikers quickly drew level at 7-all on Balse’s kills before completely seizing the upper hand,14-7, at the expense of San Sebastian’s woeful serving and attacking.
Thai import Bualee Jaroensri caught fire in the ensuing plays to lock the count at 18-all. But a 2-1 exchange at the turn put UST ahead once more, 20-19, before Lady Spiker Bernice Co fired a string of aces to settle the outcome.
Brimming with confidence, the Lady Spikers opened the third set with an 8-4 advantage.
UST further outscored San Sebastian, 13-8 as Carolino repeatedly thwarted San Sebastian’s poor back row defense with crosscourt hits.
With San Sebastian on the brink of ouster, Lady Stags mainstay Laurence Ann Latigay waxed hot on the offensive end to cut the deficit by one, 16-15.
Yet the Lady Spikers remained unfazed, responding with a 7-5 tear to jack up the lead, 23-19.
Although San Sebastian would threaten anew, 23-22, there was no stopping UST’s date with destiny as Maizo nailed back-to-back kills to carry the Lady Spikers at setpoint.
Balse took scoring honors for UST with 18 points while Latigay contributed 13 for the Lady Stags.
Maizo meanwhile clinched the Best Blocker award.
“Our good conditioning and motivation were the major reasons behind this victory. I told them not to lose hope even though we were down in the series and they responded well,” Delos Santos said. “I give all the credits to the One on top, coach August Sta. Maria, my family, and the whole Thomasian community.”
In Game 1 last June 11, UST absorbed a 25-17, 25-22, 25-19 shocker from San Sebastian to end the Lady Spikers’ winning streak back in the semifinals.
