DEFENDING champions De La Salle Lady Spikers survived a 25-20, 17-25, 25-22, 15-25, 15-8, nail-biter against the UST Golden Tigresses in the UAAP Season 80 women’s volleyball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena Saturday.
Holding a slim 6-5 lead in the final frame, the Lady Spikers uncorked a 9-3 spurt capped by May Luna’s block to come away with the win.
“Dinikit namin ‘yung score [noong fifth set] kaya lang hindi na kumapit sa amin ‘yung momentum that time so nahirapan kami,” UST head coach Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes said.
The Lady Spikers committed a blocking violation that capped off a solid fourth set for the Tigresses, 25-15.
Up 23-22 in the third frame, reigning Most Valuable Player Joy Baron and Kim Dy teamed up with back-to-back kills for a 2-1 La Salle advantage.
Tied at 10-all in the second canto, UST sizzled with a 15-7 run topped by a La Salle illegal attack to tie the game at one-set apiece.
A Baron block sealed a four-point swing for La Salle to take the first set, 25-20.
Baron led La Salle with 19 points while Season 79 finals MVP Desiree Cheng chipped in 12 markers.
Cherry Ann Rondina led all scorers with 28 points while Italian rookie Milena Alessandrini registered 18 markers in her UAAP debut.
The Tigresses will go up against the University of the East Lady Warriors on Feb. 7, Wednesday, 2 p.m., at the Arena in San Juan.
