University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses barge to the win column and give new head coach Emilio Reyes his first victory as collegiate volleyball head coach with a 25-13, 25-12, 23-25, 25-18 decision against De La Salle University-Dasmarinas Lady Patriots in the Shakeys V-League Collegiate Conference at the FilOil Flying V Arena earlier today.
The Golden Tigresses started the first set with a 6-0 scoring blitz as the Lady Patriots struggle with its reception and UST impose its blocking on the net to end the first technical time out with an 8-2 score in favor of the Tigresses. The struggle continued for La Salle Dasmariñas as UST kept pouring them with attack points, and aces. Moreover, their own errors did not help their cause. The UST lead, after the second technical timeout grew to a 16-7 lead. The Lady Patriots managed to score most of their points in the set through the errors of UST as they managed to account only a single attack point courtesy of a Basilyn Joyce Delfin combination play for a 23-12 score, but it was too late as EJ Laure and Ria Meneses put the finishing touches to take the first set.
De La Salle-Dasmariñas initiated the second set with 2-0 score followed by both teams exchanging points. Afterwards, Pam Lastimosa scored an off the block shot for a 5-4 lead in favor of the Golden Tigresses. They never turned back as they had answers to any DLSU-D rally. Head Coach Emilio Reyes also used the latter part of the set to field its bench players with the likes of rookie Alyssa Teope, Alexa Rafael, Chloe Cortez and Christine Francisco as it became unreachable against the Lady Patriots.
The third set became a tip and neck affair as De La Salle Dasmariñas answered the Tigresses attack points due to their improved floor defense and attack. The Golden Tigresses’ crucial errors down the stretch did not help them to survive the furious Lady Patriots as they managed to take the third set, extending the match.
UST roared back in the fourth set and managed to create some separation as Lastimosa, Meneses and Carmela Tunay stepped up for a 16-10 lead after the second technical timeout. DLSU-D banked on UST errors to cut the deficit to 20-16. However, Coach Reyes reinstalled Laure to save the day for UST, who accounted for UST’s four out of five points to put the nail on the coffin for The Lady Patriots.
Despite getting his first victory, UST coach Reyes was not yet satisfied with the performance of the Golden Tigresses.
“Dapat talaga straight set, pero hindi makontrol ang mga errors. Ang masakit pa ang mga nagkakamali, ay mga senior.‘’ said Reyes
‘’Natatalo kami kailangan naming mag-aral, nanalo kami kailangan mag-improve, may mga butas, ‘yung mga nangyari sa third set ay pangit.’’ Reyes added.
EJ Laure scored 18 points to lead UST together with three blocks, while Pam Lastimosa and Tunay added 17 and 16 markers apiece .
Cherry Rose Nunag top scored DLSU-D with 11 points, while Iumi Yongco added 10 points in the Lady Patriots’ losing effort.
The Golden Tigresses will tangle against the College of Saint Benilde Blazers on July 26 at 3pm while De La Salle-Dasmariñas’ next assignment is against UAAP champion, the Ateneo Lady Eagles on the same day at 5pm at the same venue.
The Scores:
UST (3)Â – Laure 18, Lastimosa 17, Tunay 16, De Leon 8, Meneses 6, Rafael 1, Francisco 1, Cortez 1,Teope 1, Verutiao 0, Dizon 0, Rasmo (L), Hanchero (L)
DLSU-D (1) – Nunag 11, Yongco 10, Delfin 4, Dadang 3, Lara 2, Abalos 2, Galicia 2, Sy 1, Tiangco 0, Bartolazo (L), Amutan (L)
