University of Sto. Tomas unleashed its fury on already-eliminated University of the East, taking a 25-19, 25-9, 25-17 sweep and inching closer to a twice-to-beat advantage in the UAAP Season 86 Women’s Volleyball Tournament, Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Coming off a five-set 9-25, 25-19, 21-25, 25-20, 10-15 loss to Far Eastern University last April 13, the Golden Tigresses bounced back and forged a tie with National University at the pole position with identical 11-2 records, to bolster its twice-to-beat bid.
Rookie outside hitter Angge Poyos fired a game-high 25 points on 21 attacks, three aces, and one block in just 82 minutes of action to lead the Golden Tigresses back to the win column.
It was a record-breaking night for Poyos, who recorded the highest point total for a rookie with 268. She bested Faith Nisperos’ previous record of 267.
“Masaya ako kasi nakabalik ako ng one hundred percent and ayun nga, bounce back win for us kasi nga marami kaming galaw sa FEU na hindi tama. So ayun, binalikan ulit namin and nag-training kami ulit. Thankful kasi nakuha namin yung panalo,” said Poyos.
After taking the opening set, UST turned it up a notch in the second frame and dominated the Lady Warriors by putting up a 15-point, 22-7 advantage after a down-the-line attack from Poyos.
Cassiey Dongallo stopped the bleeding for UE before Poyos finished what she started and delivered the finishing blows that gave the Golden Tigresses a 25-9 win.
The Lady Warriors became the first team this season to not reach in double digits in a set. The previous lowest was 11 (third set) by Adamson against De La Salle just last Wednesday.
It was the same story in the third set, with the 20-year-old outside hitter from Balilihan, Bohol stretching a five-point, 21-16 lead to eight, 24-16, for UST after three consecutive points.
Yesha Rojo blocked Bianca Plaza to end Poyos’ run but it was not enough as Cassie Carballo outsmarted the Lady Warriors and pulled off a perfectly executed 1-2 play to finish the game.
“Well, ‘pag malinis yung galaw ng mga bata, mas madali yung panalo namin ng puntos. ‘Pag inulit lang namin, paulit-ulit lang din na nananalo kami ng puntos hanggang sa lumamang kami o makahabol kami,” added Golden Tigresses head coach Kungfu Reyes.
Regina Jurado backstopped Poyos with 11 points on nine attacks and two aces to go along with seven excellent digs while the pair of Pia Abbu and Jonna Perdido contributed six points each for the UST.
Carballo glued things together on offense with 17 excellent sets while team captain Detdet Pepito took charge on defense with 13 excellent digs and 11 excellent receptions.
The Golden Tigresses will try to clinch the twice-to-beat incentive when they take on defending champion La Salle on Saturday, 6:00 p.m., also in Araneta.
Meanwhile, UE absorbed its fifth consecutive loss to fall to 2-11.
KC Cepada led the Lady Warriors with nine points, all from attacks, while Dongallo was held to just seven points.
UE will try to finish its campaign with a bang against also-ran University of the Philippines earlier in the day at 4:00 p.m.
