Sept. 24, 2014, 7:47 p.m. – DEFENDING
champion UST Junior Golden Tigresses forged a title rematch against National
University after disposing a tough De La Salle University, 25-10, 22-25, 25-23,
25-17, in the Final Four of the UAAP Season 77 girls’ volleyball tournament at
the Adamson Gym Wednesday.
Despite a lackluster second set, the Tigresses found their way
back in the third frame to escape the Junior Archers after Eya Laure’s off-the-block
hit to give UST a 2-1 set advantage.
UST carried the momentum in the fourth set and unleashed a 7-0 run
to build a commanding 10-point lead, 19-9.
Junior Tigress Majie Mangulabnan delivered the final blow as UST
cruised to another finals stint.
“Sabi ko execute lang tayo, kasi hindi sila [La Salle] ang
mahirap na kalaban. Ang kalaban natin ay ang sarili natin,” Junior
Tigresses head coach Emilio Reyes said.
Reyes said the Tigresses’ offense became predictable in the second
set so he had to adjust and add variations to the plays in the third and fourth
sets to secure the win.
In the boys’ division, the UST Junior Tiger Spikers ended their
campaign at fourth place after bowing to Ateneo de Manila, 22-25, 18-25, 17-25,
in the step-ladder semifinals.
UST became aggressive offensively in the third set but
Ateneo’s Sebastian Cuerva and Gian Glorioso sparked a 6-0 run to fend
off the Tiger Spikers and seal the match for the Blue Eaglets, 25-17.
Junior Tiger Spikers head coach Clarence Esteban said the team was
affected by cancelled practices due to bad weather brought by storm
“Mario” last week. The Final Four matches were originally scheduled
last Saturday, Sept. 20, but were also called off because of the typhoon.
However, Esteban said consistency was the real reason for UST’s
loss.
“‘Yung consistency ng service natin nawala. Tapos ‘yung
percentage [attacks] ang baba kaya hindi natin nakuha ‘yung panalo,” he
said.
The first game of the UST-NU
finals will be on Sunday, Sept. 28, at the Adamson gym. Josiah Darren G. Saynes
