UAAP Volleyball: Growling Tigresses maul Lady Warriors in three sets

The Final Four cast is currently up for auditions, and both the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigresses and the University of the East Lady Warriors knew they needed to perform well against each other to legitimize their playoff bids. In the end, UST’s offensive-minded character made it a three-team arms race for the third and fourth spot.

 

Maika Ortiz slammed 20 points off 19 attacks to fend off an ebullient Lady Warriors squad, as the Tigresses edged their foes in a three-set skirmish, Wednesday, at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan in the 74th UAAP womens volleyball tournament.

 

Coming off a 21-point performance in her previous game, Sarina Bulan was UE’s go-to-girl, giving them an early lead at 4-3 which Ortiz easily neutralized, 4-4, the first of two deadlocks in the set.

 

After the scoreboard read 11-11, UST never looked back as they went on to lead the entire set. Ortiz and Maru Banaticla were left unchecked early on, as both scored seven and six points, respectively, as the set ended, 25-21 in favor of UST.

 

Noticing that the focal point of UST’s offense centered on Banaticla, UE head coach Boy Dalistan sent Cristel Rosale and team captain Dawn Dizon to check her defensively, and the tactic succeeded early.

 

The defensive adjustment however, freed UST’s other attackers to have their way. After Lady Tiger Judy Caballejo evened the set at 6-6, most of UST’s six started scoring, with Caballejo dealing most of the damage before another Banaticla spike. UST then piled it on, drawing contributions from Ortiz and reserve Mela Tunay, en route to the biggest lead at 10 points, 24-14. A spike from Tunay finished the set at 25-15.

 

In the third set, UE would again grab an early lead, drawing three quick points from Dizon. Just like clockwork however, UST would easily diminish that lead after a service ace from Banaticla, evening the set at 5-5, before taking over again.

 

With the Lady Warrior defense still channelling energies towards containing Banaticla, Ortiz exploded for six straight points in a 6-3 run after the 5-5 deadlock. UE crept up as close as 13-11 after Lady Warrior Leuseht Dawis scores off a block, but UST distanced themselves further, drawing contributions from Dimaculangan and more from Ortiz. Tunay had a more-than-decent showing in the third set, ultimately wrapping up the set at 25-16.

 

At 7-5, the Growling Tigresses forged a three-way tie with the FEU Lady Tamaraws and the Adamson University Lady Falcons, who all stand at 7-5 and, together with Ateneo (9-2), are vying for the second, third and fourth spots of the Final Four. UE on the other hand, would need a lot of things to fall their way to make it into the Final Four, owing to their 4-8 record.

 

SET SCORES: 25-21, 25-15, 25-16

— AD/RSJ, GMA News