Entering Wednesday’s game against Ateneo de Manila University, University of Santo Tomas setter Cassie Carballo was leading the league in service accuracy.
In the first round, the sophomore playmaker made 13 aces with a league-best 0.48 average per set.
But against the Blue Eagles, Carballo committed a costly, untimely error as her service went straight to the net that gave Ateneo a 27-26 lead in the fourth set before Lyann De Guzman’s hit that extended the match.
Fortunately, the Golden Tigresses preserved their unscathed record, escaping the Eagles, 25-15, 27-25, 23-25, 26-28, 15-13 at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
In the fifth frame, Carballo redeemed herself.
“Naging motivation ko lang din po yung service error ko kasi super crucial po nung fourth set. So talagang sinabi ko sa sarili ko na kailangan kong magtiwala sa sarili ko para makabawi rin kasi kailangan din ako ng team,” said the De La Salle-Zobel product.
Knotted at eight, Carballo rediscovered her serving prowess by unloading two aces in UST’s three straight points that made the difference for an 8-0 record.
This victory to open the second round will serve as more experience for the league-leaders, who are still young and recovering from losing their key players last season.
“Super grateful kami sa panalo today kasi talagang pinaghirapan,” said Carballo.
“Yun lang din yung sinasabi namin sa isa’t isa na this round namin mas kailangan yakapin at mahalin yung isa’t isa kasi hindi naman po kami yung veterans talaga so part of the learning process lang din namin ito.”
