THE UST Golden Tigresses trumped the Lyceum Lady Pirates, 25-22, 23-25, 25-20, 25-17, to open their 2024 V-League Women’s Collegiate Challenge campaign at the Paco Arena on Sunday, July 28.
Golden Tigresses Angeline Poyos and Jonna Perdido scored 16 apiece, while Regina Jurado and Marga Altea scored 13 points apiece to lead UST’s attack.
UST head coach Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes said the rookies gelled well with team veterans, a test of adaptability the newcomers passed.
“‘Yong adaptability ng individual players natin para doon sa team plays natin, kumbaga nagle-level up. Nako-correct ‘yong mga dapat i-correct. Na-adapt ‘yong mga dapat i-adapt,” Reyes told the Varsitarian. “More on consistency and the rest will follow. Araw-araw naman namin ginagawa ‘yan sa training.”
The game started tight in the opening period, 24-22, until UAAP Season 86 Rookie of the Year Poyos went for a through-the-block kill to draw first blood.
Marred by 13 errors in the second frame, the Golden Tigresses stayed alive late into the set after a service error by LPU’s Johna Dolorito, 24-23. However, Lady Pirate Hiromi Osada’s through-the-block kill equalized the game at one set apiece, 25-23.
A costly LPU service error in the third frame allowed UST to secure a 2-1 lead, 25-20.
The Golden Tigresses never trailed in the fourth set and led 17-13 midway, before pulling away with a game-sealing 8-4 run capped by a Jurado through-the-block kill, 25-17.
Lady Pirates Dolorito and Janeth Tulang scored 15 and 11 markers, respectively.
This marked Poyos, Cassie Carballo and Detdet Pepito’s first game since the UAAP Season 86 finals.
“I think this time mas naging composed sila. ‘Yon naman ‘yong habol. Iyong galawan nila, naging maganda. Though may mga lapses pero mai-cocorrect naman ‘yan,” he said.
However, Reyes stressed that the Golden Tigresses have a lot to refine in terms of adapting to his system, especially after the team committed 37 errors, 13 of which were made in a single set.
“Ang mindset diyan ‘yung adaptation ng sistema. Iyong skill level, dapat mas mataas, ‘yung demand ng performance, dapat ma-meet nila,” he said.
“Marami pa kaming dapat ayusin, especially sa mga middle namin. Medyo matagal nagpahinga kami, especially mga seniors. Little by little, magiging okay naman ‘yan.”
The Golden Tigresses will next face University of the East on Sunday, Aug. 4, 5 p.m., at the same venue. With reports from James Michael M. Magboo
