The University of Santo Tomas Tigresses continue to impress as they posted their fourth straight win at the expense of University of the Philippines Lady Maroons, 28-26, 25-19, 25-18, in the 13th Shakey’s V-League Reinforced Conference, Monday night at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Carla Sandoval topscored for UST with 14 points, 10 coming from attacks. Ennajie Laure supplied 13, while Marivic Meneses chipped in 11. Alex Cabanos produced 34 excellent sets in the victory.
A tight match-up ensued right in the opening frame, with both teams preventing one another from pulling away. As a result, UP and UST saw themselves locked at 20-all with three deuces taking place. From a 26-all knot, Laure and Meneses stepped up, each scoring off kills to send UST to a 1-0 set lead, 28-26.
With unforced errors standing in the way of the Lady Maroons, the Tigresses went full beast mode in the following set, converting their 16-8 lead midway to a edge closer to winning the set, 24-15. UP tried a comeback with a mini 4-0 run sparked by Rose Cailing and Isa Molde, but an off-the-block hit by Sandoval propelled the Tigresses to a commanding 2-0 set lead, 25-19.
With momentum already on their side, the Tigresses capitalized on the moment by taking control of the third canto. Despite UP coming back 18-15 from a 16-11 deficit midway, UST weathered the Lady Maroons’ surge. The Tigresses rode a 7-3 run behind the trio of Laure, Meneses, and Mary Pacres to shut the door for UP and cruise to their fourth straight win of the conference, 25-18.
“Yun nga, 4-0. Habang tsuma-tsamba, ituloy-tuloy na,” said UST head coach Emilio Reyes postgame, regarding the team’s fourth straight win.
“Hopefully magtuloy-tuloy na yung consistency na hinahanap namin,” he added.
Reyes had not expect their win to come via sweep.
“Actually hindi. Basta kami laro lang,” he said.
Diana Carlos was the lone bright spot for the Lady Maroons, leading her team with 16 markers off 14 attacks.
Both teams will have their next matches this Saturday, October 15. UST will face a tough team in Bureau of Customs Transformers at 4 PM, while UP will have their hands full as they go up against Pocari Sweat at 6 PM.
The Scores:
UST (3) – Sandoval 14, Laure 13, Meneses 11, Lastimosa 8, Palec 6, Pacres 4, Cabanos 3, Cortez 2, Bicar 0, Rasmo L.
UP (0) – Carlos 16, Molde 7, Bersola 5, Tiamzon 4, Buitre 3, Cailing 3, Dorog 3, Layug 1, Ramos 0, Estranero L, Gaiser L.
