UST LEFTY spikers Regina Jurado and Jonna Perdido steered the Golden Tigresses to a four-set win against the UP Fighting Maroons, 25-14, 25-13, 28-30, 25-15, in the second round of the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday, April 10.
Perdido matched her career-high 24 points built on 22 attacks, one ace and one block, while Jurado also scored her season-best 24 points built on 21 attacks and three blocks.
UST, which missed super rookie Angeline Poyos, rose to a league-best 10-1 win-loss record, while UP dropped to 1-10. The Tigresses became the first team to reach a double-digit record this season.
“For the past two training sessions namin, ‘di na talaga namin nakasama si Poyos,” UST head coach Emilio ‘Kung Fu’ Reyes said postgame. “Ang pinakaimportante ay team kami, sumusuporta ang bawat isa, pero hindi kami umaasa sa isa lang.”
“Mas madali ang panalo kapag lahat into it. Lahat ay handang tumulong in their own little ways.”
Xyza Gula replaced Poyos as one of the starting outside hitters and added 12 markers to the win.
A comfortable 22-9 lead in the first set allowed the Tigresses to draw first blood, 25-14.
UST continued to display its dominance in the second frame after a 25-13 set-win capped by an off-the-block kill by Beth Hilongo, who played as an opposite spiker. Hilongo started the season as UST’s second libero.
The Tigresses were already leading 16-12 midway through the third frame, but UP turned the tables after an 18-12 run to extend the game to four sets.
UST regained its momentum in the fourth set and buried the Fighting Maroons with a 10-point gap, 25-15.
League-leading libero Detdet Pepito tallied 28 excellent digs, while likewise league-leading setter Cassie Carballo had 19 excellent sets.
Niña Ytang paced UP with 14 markers, while Stephanie Bustrillo added 10 points.
The UST Golden Tigresses will next face the FEU Lady Tamaraws on Saturday, April 13, 4 p.m. at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
