University of Sto. Tomas’ young guns opened its post-Eya Laure era with a stunning 25-19, 25-23, 25-22 sweep of last season’s runner-up National University in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament, Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Rookie Angeline Poyos, Regina Jurado, and Jonna Perdido all took turns pummeling down the crucial hits that fended off the Lady Bulldogs after an hour and 32 minutes of intense volleyball action.
“Medyo ano, dun sa result ng laro nagulat ako. Pero doon sa nilaro nila, hindi ako nagugulat dun kasi ganun kami mag-ensayo. Talagang ano lang, maganda yung gising namin, A-game,” said Golden Tigresses head coach Kungfu Reyes.
With UST holding just a one-point lead in the third, Poyos hammered an off-the-block hit before blocking Arah Panique to kick-start a three-to-nothing spurt that gave them a 20-16 cushion late in the game.
NU eventually closed in on the Golden Tigresses, as Cassie Carballo and Jurado committed crucial errors that paved the way for Vange Alinsug to trim the deficit to a solitary point, 22-21.
Alyssa Solomon tried to tie the game, but her attack was swallowed by the net.
Minierva Maaya got the point back with a quick, cutting the lead to one anew, 23-22, before Perdido and Jurado scored back-to-back hits to finish off the game.
“Practice makes permanent eh. Ganun na yung nangyayari sa amin ngayon so again, doon sa nilaro namin ‘di na ako nagulat, doon lang sa resulta,” said Reyes.
Poyos delivered a team-high 16 points on 13 attacks in her UAAP debut along with five excellent digs.
Perdido chipped in 12 points and six excellent receptions while Jurado scored 12 markers as well, laced with seven excellent digs. Mary Banagua chipped in 10 points, highlighted by three blocks.
Carballo tossed 20 excellent sets along with six points built on four aces and two blocks while Bernadett Pepito registered 16 excellent digs and 12 excellent receptions.
UST faces off against University of the East on Wednesday, 4:00 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
On the other hand, Solomon paced the Lady Bulldogs, who are now without Cess Robles, Jennifer Nierva, and Joyme Cagande, with 16 points on 14 attacks and two blocks while Alinsug had 11 points.
Bella Belen, meanwhile, was held to just nine points. She also had 17 excellent digs and nine excellent receptions in the loss.
NU will try to enter the column versus Ateneo de Manila University on Saturday, 4:00 p.m. at the MOA Arena.
