After bowing to the Bureau of Customs last week, the University of Santo Tomas Tigresses are now back into the win column after edging Laoag Power Smashers in five grueling sets, 22-25, 27-25, 25-18, 25-27, and 15-12, in the 13th Shakey’s V-League Reinforced Conference Wednesday night at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
With their recent victory, UST now owns a 5-1 win-loss card, assuring them a safe spot in the semis.
Three Tigresses paced UST’s offense in the victory. EJ Laure led the team with her 22 points off 21 attacks. Marivic Meneses and Cherry Rondina produced 14 and 13, respectively. Alex Cabanos made 29 excellent sets.
The Tigresses had to overcome a slow start in the opening set, coming back from a wide 16-9 deficit to force a tie at 18-all behind Laure’s kills and Alina Bicar’s three straight aces. Laoag banked on Soltones and Wenneth Eulalio to gain the upper hand, 21-19, but UST went on a 6-1 rampage capped by two straight quick hits from Meneses to close the set in favor of the Thomasians, 25-22.
UST went off to a good start in the next frame, but slowed down and allowed Laoag to take the lead, 16-12, midway. Laoag then sustained momentum, until the Tigresses fought back behind Meneses, Laure, and Rondina to get nearer to set point, 24-22. However, Laoag forced deuces twice, and with Singh taking over, the Power Smashers were able to avert a meltdown and tie it at a set apiece, 27-25.
Picking up from where they left off in the second set, the Power Smashers showed their might in the third canto by establishing the set’s largest margin at 11, 18-7. Forever gutsy, UST ran back from the lag and inched closer, 22-17, but a service error from Carla Sandoval broke their run. Laoag then capitalized, closing out the set behind hits from Kat Villegas and Jema Galanza to go up 2-1, 25-17.
With the end-game result at stake, both squads engaged in an exchange of rallies in a thrilling fourth period. With UST and Laoag tied at 20 apiece, both teams traded kill after kill with one another, sending the set to a another deuce at 25. The Power Smashers had chances to win it, but a block by Meneses and an outside hit sent the match to a decider, 27-25.
The final set saw UST click on offense with the lead of Laure and Lastimosa, helping them post an 8-3 lead early. The Power Smashers, behind Soltones and Singh, slowly chipped away the deficit and even closed in by just two, 14-12. Their comeback hopes went out the window, however, as Rondina scored off a quick attack to aid UST reign triumphant, 15-12.
UST head coach Emilio Reyes was impressed on how his players executed at pressure-filled situations such as the five-set match.
“Kahit anong outcome nung laro, malaking bagay sa’min yun eh. Yung hinahanap namin na ganoong sitwasyon, yung real scenario, hindi namin maituturo yun eh,” said Reyes postgame.
“Kahit matalo kami kanina, win-win situation na sa’min yun eh. Yun ang hinahanap namin, yung learning,” Reyes furthered.
Soltones led Laoag with 27 huge points off 26 attacks to lead all scorers. Singh added 19, while Aiko Urdas chipped in 15 markers in tonight’s loss, which sends the Power Smashers to a 2-3 slate.
Both Laoag and UST will have Pocari Sweat Lady Warriors as their next opponents in respective dates. The Power Smashers will face them first on October 24, Monday, at 4 PM, while UST will fight them on November 2, Wednesday, at 6 PM, in the last match of the preliminaries.
The Scores:
UST (3) – Laure 22, Meneses 14, Rondina 13, Pacres 7, Bicar 6, Cortez 4, Lastimosa 3, Palec 3, Cabanos 2, Viray 0, Sandoval 0, Rivera L, Rasmo L.
Laoag (2) – Soltones 27, Singh 19, Urdas 15, Villegas 7, Saet 4, Galanza 3, Prado 1, Guillema 0, Galang L, Eroa L.
