AFTER dropping their first three games, the UST Golden Tigresses stunned the National University Lady Bulldogs, 25-14, 25-18, 17-25, 19-25, 15-12, to notch their second straight win in the UAAP Season 78 women’s volleyball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena last Feb. 20.
The Tigresses had also prevailed over the University of the East squad, 25-18, 25-8, 25-23, last Feb. 17 at the Arena in San Juan.
NU bungled a huge lead late in the deciding frame, 6-11, but UST sizzled for a 7-1 run to take the upper hand, 13-12.
A back-to-back block over Lady Bulldogs skipper Myla Pablo sealed the victory for the Golden Tigresses.
Captain Ennajie Laure and Cherry Ann Rondina led the Golden Tigresses with 21 markers apiece while fourth-year spiker Carmela Tunay contributed 13 points.
With the win, the Golden Tigresses are now fifth in the team standings with a 2-3 win-loss record.
“‘Yung character na pinipilit namin buuin, unti-unti nagkakaron ng linaw. Hopefully magdere-deretso. Again, ‘yung panalo namin sa UE, morale booster. Paano pa ‘tong panalo sa NU? Siguro na-re-redeem na nila [ang mga] sarili nila,” said UST coach Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes Jr.
Reyes said the win against volleyball powerhouse NU could be the spark his team needed to finally barge into the Final Four.
“It’s everybody’s game. ‘Di kami puwede umasa sa isang team na magliligtas [sa amin]. [Kami] mismo ang magliligtas sa sarili namin,” he said.
Despite a slow start this season, a glance of Tigresses’ potential is becoming apparent as they placed second in the blocking department with an average of 2.05 blocks per set and third in the spiking and service departments with a 33.33 percent efficiency and 1.90 service aces per set, respectively.
Another bright spot can be seen on the MVP-caliber performance of beach volleyball standout Rondina who is now the leading scorer of the tournament with 98 points—76 from spikes, 8 from blocks and 14 from service aces.
Early woes
UST failed to complete a comeback against last season’s fourth placers Far Eastern University, 22-25, 18-25, 25-15, 23-25, despite a better defensive display of 44 digs compared to the Lady Tamaraws’ 31 last Feb. 13.
The Golden Tigresses could have extended the match into a decider after leading late in the fourth set, 21-19, but the Lady Tamaraws uncorked a quick 5-1 run to arrive at match point.
A through-the-block hit from Toni Rose Basas sealed the victory for the Lady Tamaraws.
Down two sets coming to the third frame, the Tigresses showed composure by stealing the third set but ran out of steam.
It was almost the same story for UST in its second match against two-time defending champions Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles. The Golden Tigresses won only the third set and absorbed 22-25, 20-25, 25-21, 15-25 loss last Feb. 7.
In their opening match, the Tigresses could have taken the game away from the Adamson University after a 14-all deadlock in the fifth set, but a service ace from Lady Falcon Jessica Galanza prevented them to complete the comeback, 22-25, 21-25, 25-20, 30-28, 14-16 last Feb. 3.
