By: Ernest Tuazon
Sister schools University of Santo Tomas and Colegio de San Juan de Letran posted contrasting wins to open the 2024 V-League Collegiate Challenge on Sunday.
The Growling Tigresses foiled the Lyceum Lady Pirates, 25-22, 23-25, 25-20, 25-17. Meanwhile, the Lady Knights stunned the UP Fighting Maroons, 19-25, 21-25, 25-19, 25-19, 15-8, at Paco Arena in Manila.
Angge Poyos and Jonna Perdido led the Golden Tigresses with 16 points each, while Marga Altea and Regina Jurado combined for 26 markers.
“Halos puro rookie ang naglaro ngayon, pero whatever the result, gusto lang namin makita paano sila mag-react sa iba’t ibang scenarios, paano yung adjustment and judgment kasi skills-wise nandiyan na,” UST head coach Kungfu Reyes said postgame.
UST made quick work of LPU in the fourth set to claim their first win after blazing to a six-point lead, capped by a Perdido offspeed hit at 16-10.
A Perdido tip-over and a through-the-block attack by Jurado completed the Golden Tigresses’ four-set rout of the Lady Pirates, 25-17.
A 27-minute third set saw UST take a 2-1 set lead over LPU, 25-20.
An error-plagued Golden Tigresses side, which committed 13 miscues, allowed the Lady Pirates to run away with the second set, 25-23.
“May mga lapses, pero mas marami ang nakaka-adapt doon sa system. Ang kailangan na lang is yung consistency ng galaw, yun naman ang intention,” Reyes added.
(C) V-League Images
Meanwhile, from leading by two in the fifth set, 8-6, the Lady Knights utilized a 7-2 run to end the match and complete their reverse sweep of the Fighting Maroons, 15-8.
A back-row attack from Gia Maquilang and a 1-2 play from Princess Tumayao paved the way for the Lady Knights to force a decider, 25-19.
UP showed signs of life in the fourth set, narrowing the deficit to one after an early seven-point Letran lead, 9-8.
Down two sets to none, Letran sparked their comeback with a 25-19 third-set win, sealed by a drop ball from Nizelle Martin.
UP, on the other hand, towered over Letran to open the match and zoomed to a 2-0 set lead with 25-19 first-set and 25-21 second-set wins.
“Nung una po talaga, siguro yung iba naten-ense… Sobrang proud ako sa mga bata kasi nag-step up yung mga rookies na ginamit talaga,” said Lady Knights assistant coach Chamberlane Cuñada, who spoke for Oliver Almadro as he handles both Letran and UP.
“Slow start kami kanina, pero natapos kami ng malakas, bale ayon naman ang pinaka-importante,” she added.
NCAA Season 99 Freshman of the Year Maquilang led the Lady Knights’ comeback win with 16 points on 13 attacks and three aces, along with 12 excellent digs and nine excellent receptions.
Kassandra Doering and Nina Ytang poured in 11 points each in the Fighting Maroons’ loss, while Bienne Bansil and Irah Jaboneta chipped in nine points each.
Johna Dolorito paced the Lady Pirates in the loss with 15 points, while Janeth Tulang and Heart Bio chipped in 11 and 10 markers, respectively.
