THE UST Golden Tigresses’ Final Four hopes hang in the balance after crumbling late against the Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles, 22-25, 25-20, 25-16, 17-25, 9-15, in the UAAP Season 80 women’s volleyball tournament at the Arena in San Juan Wednesday.
With the win, Ateneo returned to the semifinals with a 9-3 win-loss card, while UST absorbed its eighth loss in 12 games.
The Tigresses still have a chance for at least a playoff for the fourth seed after University of the Philippines won against National University.
Tied at 2-all, the Lady Eagles derailed the Tigresses in the deciding set with a 13-7 blitz sealed by a service ace by Kat Tolentino to take the match.
“Total meltdown talaga tayo noong fourth at fifth set. Consistency ‘yung kulang sa amin ngayong araw. Nasa amin na ang [momentum], nawala pa,” Golden Tigresses head coach Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes Jr. said.
Ateneo overcame an early fourth set deficit with a 14-5 run, highlighted by Jho Maraguinot’s crosscourt kill to force a decider, 25-17.
The Tigresses broke an 8-all deadlock in the third canto with a 17-8 blast, topped by a Carla Sandoval block for a 2-1 set advantage.
Tied at 18-all in the second frame, UST sparked a 7-2 blitz capped by Tin Francisco’s block to tie the game at one set apiece.
The Lady Eagles took the close first set after Cherry Rondina’s attack error, 25-23.
Tolentino led Ateneo with 21 points while Maraguinot chipped in 19 markers.
Rondina paced UST with 21 points.
UST will play its penultimate match of the season against defending champions De La Salle University Lady Spikers on April 8, 4 p.m., at the same venue. I.R.L. Suing
