UST ROOKIE Angeline Poyos led the Golden Tigresses to a four-set victory over the UE Lady Warriors, 18-25, 25-19, 25-17, 25-22, for their second straight win in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, Feb. 21.
Poyos paced UST’s offense with 24 points built on 19 attacks, three aces and two blocks.
Second stringer Xyza Gula, along with starters Cassie Carballo and Regine Jurado, converged for four UST points to hold a two-point cushion in a tight fourth set, 13-11.
With UST holding a three-point lead late, 23-20, back-to-back attacks by dynamo Lady Warrior Casiey Dongallo trimmed the Tigresses’ lead to one, 23-22.
A crosscourt kill by Jurado and an off-the-block hit by Poyos sealed UST’s second straight win, 25-22.
“Yung game, talagang no joke, hindi mo pwedeng magpabaya kasi gugulatin ka ni UE, especially nung first set,” UST head coach Emilio “Kung-Fu” Reyes said post game. “Si UE kasi, new era rin ito… It’s a tough game para sa amin, especially doon sa transition ng mga bata.”
The Lady Warriors handed UST’s first set loss of the season after ending the opening set on an 8-2 blitz, 25-18.
The Tigresses responded with a 25-19 romp of UE in the second set, where 18 points came in the attacking department.
The Tigresses expanded a three-point lead in the third frame, 16-13, to an eight-point set win over UE via a late 9-4 spurt capped by a Mary Banagua block on KC Cepada, 25-17. UST doubled the Lady Warriors’ attack points in the set, 13-7.
Jurado scored 16 points on 15 attacks and an ace, while Gula chipped in 10 markers.
Detdet Pepito continued to anchor UST’s defense with 13 excellent receptions and 12 excellent digs, while sophomore setter Carballo steered UST’s offense with 17 excellent sets, leading to three Tigresses scoring in double figures ahead of their clash against La Salle.
“Alam naman namin na David vs. Goliath ang magiging labanan [against DLSU]. Ilalaban namin, kasi kung maglalaro lang kami, alam namin ang magiging resulta: hindi kami mananalo kay La Salle. Bibigyan namin sila ng magandang laban,” said Reyes.
Dongallo scored 23 points, while Cepada and Riza Nogales contributed 10 points each.
The UST Golden Tigresses will next face the reigning champions DLSU Lady Spikers, on Sunday, Feb. 25., 3 p.m., at the Mall of Asia Arena.
