THE UST Golden Tigresses clinched a twice-to-beat advantage after mincing the DLSU Lady Spikers in four sets, 22-25, 25-23, 25-16, 25-15, in their last elimination-round game in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Saturday, April 27.
The Tigresses secured the second seed with a 12-2 win-loss record, setting up a semifinals clash against defending champion DLSU, whom they defeated twice in the elimination round.
This marked UST’s best record in 14 years, matching the Tigresses’ 2010 record when they also secured the second seed with a 12-2 slate.
However, victory did not come easy for the Tigresses as they had to weather the return of reigning MVP Angel Canino and a career-best performance from Shevana Laput.
In the first set, Canino came off the bench and scored seven of her 13 points to steer the Lady Spikers to a 1-0 lead, 25-22.
The game remained tight in the second frame, 23-all, but back-to-back off-the-block kills by Jonna Perdido and Angeline Poyos tied the game at one set apiece.
Tied at 6-all in the third frame, the Tigresses walloped DLSU with a 19-10 run capped by a Xyza Gula service ace to earn a 2-1 advantage.
DLSU committed 10 of its 26 errors in the third set, and UST capitalized on its 12-7 attack points advantage to gain the upper hand.
In similar fashion, UST quashed a 9-7 DLSU lead in the fourth set and went on an 18-6 run to secure the twice-to-beat incentive. It was another Gula service ace that sealed the victory for the Tigresses, 25-15.
UST towered over the league’s best blocking team, securing seven blocks compared to DLSU’s six. Additionally, the Tigresses, who emerged as the No. 1 serving team, had eight aces compared to DLSU’s five.
“Malaking panalo ‘tong nangyari ngayong gabi,” UST head coach Emilio “Kung-Fu” Reyes said postgame. “Nakuha namin ‘yong ine-aim naming twice-to-beat-advantage, ise-celebrate namin ‘tong panalo namin, pero sa next days, back to hard work na ulit.”
Poyos led the Tigresses with 22 points on 18 attacks, three blocks and one ace. She finished the eliminations as the second-best scorer with 290 points, just one point behind her fellow rookie, UE’s Casiey Dongallo.
Perdido chalked up 19 markers, while Regina Jurado contributed 13 points.
Laput paced the Lady Spikers with her career-high 26 points.
