University of Santo Tomas brushed off a slow start to outlast University of the Philippines, 16-25, 25-13, 25-19, 25-20, and reclaim its winning form in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Women’s Volleyball Tournament at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday.
Proficiency and resilience defined the Golden Tigresses’ performance. They bounced back from a tough straight-set loss to the Adamson Lady Falcons and overcame a rough start, as the Fighting Maroons—playing without injured hitter Casiey Dongallo—took the opening set.
Angge Poyos led the charge with 20-of-30 kills for a 24-point effort, adding seven digs and six receptions. Reg Jurado contributed 16 points on 15-of-30 spikes, while Jonna Perdido posted 9-of-20 kills and two aces for a 12-point showing. Rookie Julia Balingit hammered 4-of-10 attacks to bolster the Tigresses’ offense.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“Ginawa lang namin sa team, lalo na ’yung second set, ginising namin sila. Then again, of course ‘yung bawi talaga kasi kung titingnan natin, itong game na ito ang magdidikta kung ano ‘yung kapalaran namin sa first round,” said UST assistant coach Yani Fernandez.
“’Yung tapang bumalik na, pero siyempre hindi pa rin kami magpapakampante doon sa performance nila. Still, mayroong mga kailangang trabahuhin.”
The Golden Tigresses improved to 3-3, creating a three-way tie for fourth to sixth place with the Fighting Maroons and the Lady Falcons.
Determined to drag the match to a fifth set, UP opened the fourth frame with a 13-9 hot start. But UST matched their intensity, as Jurado, Lianne Penuliar, and Poyos orchestrated a decisive 12-3 run to seize control, 21-16.
Jelai Gajero attempted to rally the Maroons with three consecutive points to cut the deficit to two, 19-21, but Balingit, Perdido, and Avril Bron provided the finishing touches to secure the victory for UST.
“Thankful kasi tiniyaga talaga namin. Slow start man pero second, third, and fourth talagang inilaban namin. Hindi na kami nagtira sa sarili, 100 percent na talaga ‘yung ibinigay namin sa game na ito,” said Poyos.
UST will aim to climb above .500 at the end of the first round when they face Far Eastern University on Saturday at the same venue.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
For UP, middle blocker Niña Ytang led the scoring with 14 points on 11 attacks and three blocks, while Gajero added 12 points. Dongallo, sidelined by an apparent left knee injury sustained last Sunday against Far Eastern University, missed the match and was seen on crutches.
The Fighting Maroons will close their first-round schedule against Adamson on Sunday.
