THE UST Junior Golden Tigresses ended their Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League campaign after falling short against the Kings’ Montessori School, 21-25, 25-19, 25-21, at the Paco Arena on Tuesday, June 4.
With the loss, UST crashed out of the quarterfinals and finished the tournament with a 1-2 win-loss record, while the KMS Lady Vikings advanced with a 2-1 slate. Bacolod Tay Tung High School topped the Pool C with an undefeated record of 3-0 for a quarterfinals berth.
Trailing by three in the first salvo, 22-19, the Lady Vikings tried to inch closer to the Junior Tigresses, but a costly Sym Ildefonso attack error gave UST the 25-21 first set win.
In the second set, KMS pulled off a 6-2 run capped by Shahanna Lleses through-the-block kill to force a decider.
A service error by the Lady Vikings and a service ace by setter Ashley Manayi trimmed KMS’s lead to two, 23-21, but the Lady Vikings responded with consecutive points highlighted by a game-sealing service ace from Justine Decena.
KMS had more attack points with 34 compared to UST’s 29.
UST’s core players Kimberly Rubin, Lianne Penuliar, Avril Bron, Jaila Adrao, Aneeza Santos, Maile Salang and Chasliey Pepito did not suit up in the tournament due to their national team duties.
They will play in the upcoming 22nd Princess Cup Southeast Asia U18 Championship from June 8 to 12 and in the AVC Asian U18 Championship from June 16 to 23, both of which will be held in Thailand.
