14 April 2014, 11:45 a.m. – THE UST Golden Tigresses relied on solid blocking to frustrate the San Sebastian Lady Stags, 25-16, 20-25, 25-14, 25-20, in the Shakey’s V-League tournament at the Arena in San Juan Sunday.
The Tigresses, which registered 15 points on blocks, improved to second place with a 2-1 win-loss record in Pool B, trailing behind defending champion National University (4-0).
Ennajie Laure shone anew for UST with a game-high 18 points, while Marivic Meneses and team captain Pamela Lastimosa added 15 and 11 markers, respectively.
Lastimosa scored two consecutive down-the-line spikes in the fourth set to give the the España-based volleybelles a five-point cushion, 22-17.
Laure later went for an off-the-block hit to ice the match for the Tigresses, 25-17.
San Sebastian, which featured former UST standout Maruja Banaticla as guest player, went cold at the start of the final frame, allowing the Tigresses to erect a 9-2 advantage.
Down by as much as seven in the second set, UST rallied back with a 6-1 rally to slash the deficit to two, 19-21, courtesy of Laure’s service ace and Lastimosa’s top spin attack.
But Czarino Berbano, who had 13 for the Lady Stags, scored with an attack to equalize the match at one set apiece, 25-20.
“Our game became dry in the second set and we lost our focus,” coach Odjie Mamon said.
UST will next battle the Davao Lady Agilas on April 27, 2 p.m., at the same venue. Karl Cedrick G. Basco
