UAAP: Santiago sisters star as NU downs UST in straight sets

The National University Lady Bulldogs solidified their status as one of the league’s elite after thrashing the University of Sto. Tomas Growling Tigresses in straight sets, 25-18 25-13 25-21, on Saturday at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

 

NU was up two sets to nothing, but the Tigresses mounted a rally in the last few moments of the third set, tying the game at 17-17, before NU’s myriad options on offense overwhelmed the squad from España. 

 

"Lagi naming sinasabi sa kanila, wag silang magbibigay ng pagkakataon sa kalaban," said NU head coach Edjet Mabbayad.  "Kung kaya mong tapusin ng tatlong set, tapusin na, wag natin silang bibigyan ng pagkakataon dahil kahit sino mang team yan, kapag binibigyan ng pagkakataon kukunin agad nila yan.”  

 

Mina Aganon impressed with 14 points, 11 off attacks, as she was subsequently awarded Player of the Game honors, despite Dindin Santiago scoring a team-high 19 points. Myla Pablo and Aiko Urdas generated offense from the wings, scoring nine points apiece.

 

“Sinasabihan namin sila na lagi silang ready kasi yan pag setters binigay sa kanila kailangan gawin nila yung responsibility nila, na kahit hindi sila bigyan, okay lang yan basta kung ano macontribute nila sa game magsasama-sama lahat yan, gaya ngayon, sila yung gumawa”, said Coach Mabbayad of his wing attackers.

 

The Lady Bulldogs remain seated at number two, with a 4-1 record, tied with Ateneo, while the Growling Tigresses take a dip to fifth.

 

The Tigresses kept the Lady Bulldogs tame early in the first set until NU went on an 8-0 run courtesy of Dindin Santiago, Myla Pablo, and Carmina Aganon. UST only managed to score after rookie Marivic Meneses broke the drought with a spike 16-8. Coach Mabbayad effectively kept Santiago in the middle, denying UST easy attacks. UST managed to claw within six points, but that would be as close as they could get, as Dindin Santiago scored her team’s last two points to snag the first set, 25-18.

 

Coach Mamon tried experimenting with his line-up to see which players could provide an answer for the Santiago sisters, but to no avail, even after inserting rookies Chloe Cortez, Shannen Palec, and Alex Cabanos. Lastimosa accepted the challenge when she and Meneses were able to block NU’s attacks, but such showings were mere flashes in the pan instead, as Jaja and Dindin Santiago continued to bog UST down. The younger Santiago's last kill gave NU a nine-point lead, 20-11. As UST’s blocking focused on the Santiagos, Pablo and Aganon capitalized on angled hits, with three straight points from Pablo closing out the set at 25-13.

 

With two sets in the bag, the NU defense sagged off, while the likes of Cortez and Pam Lastimosa took advantage of the Lady Bulldogs’ lax play. Though NU led by as much as four points in the set, the Tigresses clawed back into the game, as seldom-used Chloe Cortez tied the game with two straight points, 17-17, breathing life into a dead crowd. UST also found a niche offensively as Cortez and Lastimosa stepped up to the plate on offense via angled hits from the left.

 

NU quickly responded with three successive points, while UST could only score in piecemeal fashion, as scores from Dindin Santiago nullified every point from the Tigresses. The Lady Bulldogs again found themselves up by three after Aganon blocked an attempt by Tunay. Lastimosa’s net error sealed the deal for the Lady Bulldogs, 25-21.

 

Dindin Santiago paced her team with 19 points, with 16 off kills, while Aganon followed suit with 14. Urdas and Pablo added nine apiece. Perez logged 22 excellent sets.

 

Lastimosa was the lone bright spot for the Tigresses, tallying 12 points. Tunay and Cortez recorded six apiece, while Menses chipped in five of her own.

 

The Lady Bulldogs look to chase another win on Wednesday, January 8 as they face off against the winless UP Lady Maroons at 2pm, while the Tigresses figure in a cage match against the Ateneo Lady Spikers on the same day at 4pm. - RAF, GMA News