THE UST Golden Tigresses failed to avenge their first-round loss to the FEU Lady Tamaraws, falling in four sets, 25-22, 26-24, 17-25, 26-24, to open the second round of the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday, March 23.
The game was neck and neck, with the Golden Tigresses outscoring the Lady Tamaraws in total points (95-94). However, FEU delivered the set-winning points in the tightly contested first, second, and third sets.
With the loss, UST dropped to fourth place with a 5-3 record. FEU, also 5-3, rose to third.
“Marami kaming takeaways; wala kaming excuses na pwedeng idahilan kung bakit kami natalo,” UST head coach Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes said postgame. “Puro breaks of the game, we are losing the two, three points every set. Kailangan naming matutunan mag-control, especially when we’re up.”
Midway through the opening set, UST tried to cut FEU’s lead with a Pia Abbu quick attack, making it 15-14. However, FEU kept the Golden Tigresses at bay and held on for a 25-22 first-set win.
In the second set, the Lady Tamaraws erased UST’s lead as Faida Bakanke’s down-the-line kill ignited a 6-2 blitz that tied the set at 22-all.
After Reg Jurado and Bakanke traded kills for a 23-all tie, the Golden Tigresses reached set point thanks to an FEU service error.
However, Lovely Lopez took charge with three straight points, capped by a crosscourt kill, to win the set for FEU, 26-24.
The Golden Tigresses bounced back in the third set, racing to a 19-13 lead after a Jurado off-the-block kill. UST finished the set with a 6-4 blitz, capped by a Maribeth Hilongo crosscourt attack, 25-17.
In the fourth set, UST led 16-10 before FEU stormed back with a 10-3 run, punctuated by three straight Petallo crosscourt kills, to take a 20-19 lead.
After a tight back-and-forth, UST brought the set to a 23-all deadlock with an Angge Poyos kill and reached set point after a Bakanke error, 24-23.
However, the Lady Tamaraws held firm. A Chen Tagaod drop shot tied the set at 24-all, followed by a Mitzi Panangin service ace and Jean Asis block on Jurado to seal the victory for the Lady Tamaraws.
“Isa sa mga problems sa team namin is pasensya sa isa’t isa. Tina-try ko pa rin i-remind sila na magkaroon ng tiwala sa sarili, tiwala sa isa’t isa, kasi minsan dun kami talaga nagkukulang,” team captain Detdet Pepito said.
Jurado paced the Golden Tigresses with 20 points, while Hilongo added 17 and Poyos had 14.
Bakanke led the Lady Tamaraws with 22 points, while Alyzza Devosora and Jazlyn Ellarina contributed 12 points apiece.
The Golden Tigresses will look to return to the win column when they face the DLSU Lady Spikers on Saturday, March 29, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum at 5 p.m
