UST team captain Eya Laure led the Golden Tigresses to a gritty five-set win over the UP Lady Maroons, 25-21, 25-20, 22-25, 19-25, 15-6, in their final UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament elimination-round game at the FilOil EcoOil Centre on Sunday.
Laure, a Most Valuable Player (MVP) candidate, erupted with 28 points built on 26 attacks and two blocks.
Ahead by two in the fourth frame, 15-13, the Lady Maroons unleashed a 10-6 run capped by Ethan Arce’s service ace to force a decider, 25-19.
Golden Tigresses Laure and Regina Jurado sparked a 6-2 run in the fifth that sent UST to set point, 14-6, before Laure’s middle attack sealed the victory for UST and put the Lady Maroons to rest, 15-6.
UST head coach Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes said the Tigresses would use their experience in eking out the five-set victory when they play tougher competition in the Final Four.
“Syempre, yung pride namin na mag-exit kami with a big win dito sa last game ng elimination, para at least dadalhin namin yung aral na nakuha namin. Bakit umabot ng five sets? Anong nangyare? Those things talagang ite-treasure namin papunta ng Final Four,” Reyes said in the post-game presser.
The Lady Maroons went on a 4-3 run late in the first set to inch closer, 21-24, but Golden Tigress Renee Peñafiel closed out the set with a crosscourt kill, 25-21.
With UST ahead by three in the second set, 23-20, Imee Hernandez’s back-to-back kills gave UST a two-sets-to-none advantage, 25-20.
Lady Maroon Alyssa Bertolano’s kill broke the 22-all deadlock in the third set, 23-22. The Lady Maroons capitalized on the Golden Tigresses’s back-to-back errors to extend the match, 25-22.
The Golden Tigresses tallied 48 digs and 39 receptions despite starting libero Bernadett Pepito’s absence. Milena Alessandrini also did not play in the game.
In the post-game presser, Reyes said Alessandrini was dealing with a knee injury, while Pepito was suffering from dehydration.
UST committed 30 errors, while UP had 22.
Jurado contributed 15 points for UST, while Hernandez added 14 markers.
Lady Maroons Nina Ytang and Stephanie Bustrillo led UP with 17 and 14 points, respectively.
The Golden Tigresses finished the season in solo fourth with a 10-4 win-loss slate and will face the top-seeded De La Salle University Lady Archers, who have a twice-to-beat advantage, in the semifinals that will start on Wednesday, May 3, 1 p.m., at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
