University of Santo Tomas preserved its immaculate record in the UAAP Season 86 Women’s Volleyball Tournament with a reverse sweep of Far Eastern University, 22-25, 21-25, 25-23, 25-20, 15-7, late Sunday evening at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The Golden Tigresses made sure to unleash their might and displayed boundless energy in the fifth.
They leaned on super subs Xyza Gula and Mae Coronado along with rookie Angge Poyos for the blowout decider, leading the team to a spotless 4-0 record.
UST sustained its best start since opening the 2010-11 season with six straight victories.
Gula delivered four including back-to-back crosscourt kills to end the game. Meanwhile, Coronado and Poyos had three apiece in the fifth frame to complete the Golden Tigresses’ comeback in two hours and 31 minutes.
“Medyo mabigat yung bakbakan. Ever since naman hindi nawawala yung rivalry ng UST at FEU. Pinaghandaan namin ito syempre high respect sa FEU. Ine-expect namin itong ganitong bakbakan luckily, nakabalik kami sa sistema namin at pinanghawakan naman ng player namin,” said UST head coach Kungfu Reyes.
The Lady Tamaraws looked on their way to an upset win after leading 16-12 in the third stanza.
However, Gula, Coronado, and Margaret Banagua turned the game around to extend the match, 25-23.
Then it was Cassie Carballo who sparked the breakaway in the fourth, changing a 13-all affair into a 20-14 lead en route to the 25-20 win.
Poyos poured 24 points on 21 attacks, two blocks, and an ace, while Banagua broke out with 15 points including a game-high four blocks.
Gula, in her three sets of play, managed to get 13 points. Meanwhile, Coronado and Carballo chimed in eight points apiece with the latter also tossing 25 excellent sets.
“Tinry lang po namin mabawi agad yung grit namin at aggressiveness sa court. Makikita naman sa first and second sets na wala talaga, seryoso lahat nawala yung enjoyment sa court,” said Gula.
Almost half of the 100 total points earned by FEU came from UST, which gave up 40 errors. However, the Golden Tigresses dominated the spiking department (71-51) and service category (11-2).
Chen Tagaod and Jean Asis topscored for the Lady Tamaraws with 15 points apiece while Faida Bakanke had 11 points.
FEU will be back on Wednesday against NU while UST will return on Saturday against Ateneo de Manila University.
Both games take place at the same Pasay venue.
