DESPITE heavy reinforcement, the UST Golden Tigresses succumbed to defending champion National University (NU), 19-25, 22-25, 25-18, 26-24, 15-10, in their nail-biting Shakey’s V-League match at The Arena in San Juan last Mar. 30.
UST, which acquired former setter Rhea Dimaculangan and reigning UAAP girls’ Most Valuable Player Ennajie Laure as guest players, dropped their season-opener while the Lady Bulldogs improved to a 2-0 win-loss record in Pool B.
Other teams in the same bracket with the Tigresses are Ateneo de Davao University, Far Eastern University and NCAA teams San Sebastian College-Recolletos and University of Perpetual Help System-DALTA.
The young Laure exploded for a game-high 23 points for UST, while Carmina Aganon led the Lady Bulldogs with 17 markers.
The taller NU squad dictated the tempo early in the fifth frame and registered an 8-3 lead after giving up the third and fourth sets to UST.
Starting cold at the deciding set, Laure then unloaded a strong down-the-line attack to cut the deficit to three, 6-9.
UAAP Season 75 Best Attacker Myla Pablo and Aganon teamed up for two consecutive points to swing the momentum back to NU, 11-7.
With NU just four points away from winning the game, the Tigresses became aggressive in blocking and scored four straight points to rally back, 10-11.
Aganon sealed the victory with a tip.
“We relaxed in the third and fourth sets and UST had a better game. We just improved our reception in the final set,” NU coach Ariel dela Cruz said.
Down 16-20 in the fourth frame, Tunay and Laure sparked a 6-1 run to take the lead, 22-21.
Lastimosa powered a crosscourt hit for set point, but Jessey De Leon committed a service error that tied the game.
But Lastimosa again stepped up to extend the game.
NU struggled on floor defense in the third set, allowing UST to enjoy a 14-8 lead. The Lady Bulldogs, however, regrouped and trimmed the lead, 14-18.
Ria Meneses, who finished with 17 points, eight of them from blocks, came to the rescue for UST and made three points to pull away, 23-18.
