The University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses mustered an impressive performance to keep themselves in the hunt for a Final Four spot, squashing the National University Lady Bulldogs, 21-25, 25-14, 25-14, 25-12, at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
Having dropped their past two matches, a rejuvenated NU side showed up in the first set. The Lady Bulldogs built a five-point lead, 13-8, after back-to-back Jaja Santiago scores. NU protected their advantage, quelling a late UST run to take the first frame.
As if on cue, the Lady Bulldogs squandered the momentum they had built in a snap and never recovered. The next three sets saw NU’s most dire collapse, as the Tigresses picked apart their weak defensive efforts. It got so bad that NU opted not to play any of their liberos. UST breezed through the last three sets, leaving NU as disgruntled as they had ever been.
Skipper Cherry Rondina powered the Tigresses with 15 points off 14 attacks and an ace. Starting open hitter Ej Laure and off-the-bench spark-plug Mary Pacres each tallied 11 markers. UST collected a whopping 12 aces, most of which came in the last three sets.
“Everything went right for us today,” shared UST head coach Kungfu Reyes. “Important win ito para sa amin kasi ito ‘yung magdi-dictate kung saan kami pupwesto sa standings. Pero kailangan namin ito ituloy-tuloy.”
UST improve their record to 3-3, tied with NU at fifth. The Tigresses will end their elimination round against surging Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws (4-2) on Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Jaja Santiago was the only Lady Bulldog who did work, tallying 15 off eight attacks, five blocks, and two aces.
NU next face the University of the Philippines Lady Maroons (4-2) on Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The Scores
UST (3) – Rondina 15, Laure 11, Pacres 11, Bicar 9, Cortez 8, Meneses 7, Lastimosa 2, Viray 1, Sandoval 0, Rivera (L)
NU (1) – Santiago 15, Singh 7, Paran 6, Urdas 5, Sato 3, Nabor 1, Chavez (L), Valdez (L)
