The UST Golden Tigresses maintained their flawless record and remained the top team in the league after defeating the UP Fighting Maroons in straight sets, 25-22, 25-20, 26-24, in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday, March 13.
The last time the Tigresses reached the 6-0 mark was in 2011, in Season 73, the season they were coming off as champions but fell short in the finals against DLSU.
Once again, it was standout rookie Angeline Poyos who led UST to the victory, tallying a game-high 22 points.
Tensions flared early in the game as UST head coach Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes challenged a call on a Poyos attack, which appeared to have struck the pinky finger of a UP player but was ruled unsuccessful. UST team captain Bernadett Pepito received a yellow card for dissenting against the referee’s decision.
The Tigresses managed to regroup and clinch the first set, 25-22, with Poyos contributing 10 points.
With the second set deadlocked at 19-all, Margaret Banagua’s block ignited a 6-1 run for the Tigresses, propelling them to a comfortable two-sets-to-one lead.
The Fighting Maroons had the early momentum in the third set, but their errors allowed UST to level the score at 14-all. The set remained tight, reaching a 23-all tie.
UST broke the tie with a Poyos kill, but UP’s Stephani Bustrillo answered right back, forcing the set to reach a deuce. However, Poyos and Regina Jurado scored crucial points to fend off UP and secure the win.
Xyza Gula and Jurado provided strong support to Poyos, contributing 14 and 12 points, respectively. Bustrillo led UP with 14 points.
UST will aim to complete a first-round sweep as they take on Adamson University on Saturday at 4 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
