THE UST Golden Tigresses crushed the University of Perpetual Help Lady Altas in Game 1 of their best-of-three battle for bronze series in the Shakey’s Super League National Invitationals, 25-15, 25-22, 25-15, at the FilOil EcoOil Centre on Wednesday, Aug. 9.
Having gone from a narrow five-set defeat against the finals-bound DLSU Lady Spikers to a dominant victory over Perpetual, the Golden Tigresses are a win away from securing bronze.
With a two-set lead and a 13-10 advantage in the third set, the Tigresses buried the Lady Altas with a 12-5 blitz to complete the sweep, 25-15.
The Lady Altas led by as much as four points in the second frame, 19-15, but failed to sustain their lead as the Tigresses unloaded a 10-3 spurt for a two-sets-to-none advantage, 25-22.
The Tigresses opened the first salvo with a 10-3 run capped by back-to-back service aces from UST rookie Margaret Banagua.
Another UST rookie in Angeline Poyos scored the last three points, allowing the Golden Tigresses to take the first set, 25-15.
Sophomore Regina Jurado led the Tigresses with 19 points built on 14 attacks and five aces. Poyos scored 13 markers, while Xyza Gula and Banagua added 10 points apiece.
“Talagang bata ‘yung team pero ‘yung pagiging promising individually and as a group, malaking bagay…Maraming nawalang seniors…pero hindi naman kami naging mahina ever since,” UST head coach Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes said postgame.
Mary Dapol was the lone Perpetual player who scored in double digits. She had 12 markers.
UST will try to clinch the bronze on Aug. 12, Saturday, 2 p.m. at the same venue. Jose Gabriel V. Ignacio
