The UST Golden Tigresses’ bid for the Shakey’s Super League Unity Cup crown fell short after losing Game 2 to the NU Lady Bulldogs, 22-25, 25-22, 25-27, 25-23, 15-10, on Saturday, Nov. 15, at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
The Tigresses have yet to defeat the Lady Bulldogs since their first-round matchup in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament.
UST played without star Angge Poyos, who sprained her ankle in training prior to the final game.
“Nawalan kami ng isang outside hitter and hindi namin in-expect, but of course, hindi namin rason ‘yon. But ang good thing kasi, sa one day na adjustment namin, nagbigyan namin sila ng magandang laban,” UST head coach Shaq de los Santos told the Varsitarian.
“Sa side naman namin, I think ‘yong consistency namin sa mga gusto naming gawin and then kung paano mag-handle ng pressure ‘yong mga kailangan naming i-improve.”
In a back-and-forth opening salvo, an error from NU’s Vange Alinsug allowed UST to spark a 5-0 run midway through the set, 16-10. The Lady Bulldogs then trimmed the lead to two following an Alexa Mata quick kill, 23-21, before Julia Balingit capped the set with a kill, 25-22.
Tied at 16-all in the second set, the Lady Bulldogs built a three-point cushion on a 4-1 run following a service error from Balingit, 20-17. The Tigresses cut the lead to one after a kill from Mae Coronado, 23-22, but a service error from Xyza Gula followed by an ace from Alinsug allowed NU to take the set, 25-22.
Down 18-15 in the third set, Cassie Carballo sparked an 8-5 run for UST to tie the set at 23-all. In the extension, Xyza Gula’s attack and Sam Cantada’s error gave the Tigresses the upper hand late to take the set, 27-25.
In the fourth set, the Lady Bulldogs jumped to a 10-6 lead off kills from Alinsug and Cantada. UST crept up to tie it at 17-all, but a drop ball from Abegail Pono sparked an 8-6 run for NU to force a deciding fifth set, 25-23.
The Lady Bulldogs capitalized on early errors from the Tigresses to build a five-point lead in the fifth set, 11-6. Coronado attempted to spark a comeback, but UST’s mistakes proved costly as a service error from Coronado ended the match, 15-10.
Gula paced the Tigresses with a team-high 16 points. Julia Balingit, who played as an open hitter, tallied 13 markers, followed by Reg Jurado with 12 and Marga Altea with 11.
Meanwhile, Cantada led the Lady Bulldogs with 24 points, while Alinsug added 19.
“Kailangan tanggapin namin na ‘yon talaga ‘yong kaya namin today… and siguro babalik kami ng mas malakas, especially pagdating ng UAAP,” De los Santos said.
Jurado was named the Best Opposite Spiker of the tournament, while Marga Altea won the 2nd Best Middle Blocker award. Xyza Gula capped off UST’s individual awards with the 2nd Best Open Spiker nod.
