UAAP: UST bucks third set setback to best UE in four

The University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses kicked off the second round of UAAP Season 76's women's volleyball tourney with a four-set win against University of the East Lady Warriors, 25-19 25-14 23-25 25-22 on Saturday, at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

UST improved to 3-5, while keeping UE winless still, 0-8.

The Golden Tigresses started the match with an early 14-5 lead as UST displayed a well-distributed offensive game. The Tigresses’ team captain, Loren Lantin, however had to leave the set early due to an injury she sustained while working the defensive end in the front row.

The lead increased to as much as 18-8 but the efficiency of Abegail Ponon sparked a Lady Warriors run, trimming their deficit to 18-14 with a 6-0 burst. Shaya Adorador’s athleticism inched the girls in red closer to 22-19, however, the momentum abruptly shifted away from UE as that proved to be their last offensive output of the set. With the veteran presence of Pamela Lastimosa, the Golden Tigresses managed to remain composed and grabbed the 25-19 win.

The Tigresses continued their scoring effectiveness in the second set with an 8-3 start, behind key contributions by Jessey De Leon. In addition, UE was forced to a change in their line-up as Angelica Dacaymay suffered an injury.

De Leon maintained her aggressiveness all throughout the set and constantly kept the Tigresses ahead by double digits. The deflated Lady Warriors ended the set with a service error, which gave UST the second set at 25-14.

The Lady Warriors turned around the pace of the match in the third set as they were able to enjoy being up by the first technical timeout, 8-6. The Tigresses were led to a couple of unforced errors that created an opportunity for UE to extend their lead to 15-11. Faith Bulan scored efficiently on the service zone for the Lady Warriors and they extended their cushion at 21-17. Alex Cabanos’ effective services tied the set quickly at 21-all, but unfortunately for the Golden Tigresses, the 15 errors on their part plagued their opportunity to sweep the match as they dropped the set against UE, 23-25.

UE kept things going in the fourth set as they propelled themselves to a quick 4-0 advantage. The startled Golden Tigresses then found themselves down 8-2 by the first technical timeout of the fourth set. UST, led by Lastimosa and Jem Gutierrez however, retaliated with a 9-4 scoring run to knot the set at 11-all.

The Tigresses managed a 16-14 lead by the second technical timeout, but UE kept themselves close in the match, forging another tie, 16-all. Later on, with UST already at match point at 24-18, the Lady Warriors managed to put up a valiant effort by scoring on four straight opportunities. With UST desperate for the last point, Cabanos delivered with a deceptive tip that gave them the victory, 25-22.

Despite the loss for the Lady Warriors, the girls in red played well as they tallied more in the blocking department, 79-72. Shaya Adorador and Faith Bulan led the way for UE with 12 and 11 respectively. UST was led by Lastimosa’s 18 and reserve setter, Cabanos’ 42 excellent sets.

Coach Odjie Mamon called the tightly-contested match against the winless Lady Warriors as a display of mental lapses, saying,g “Error yung mga tumatapos sa rallies.” In addition, the Lady Tigresses are placed in a difficult situation where they aim to win the next four of the remaining six games. He jokingly says, “Hindi na tall task eh. Taller task na.”

UST will face the NU Lady Bulldogs on Wednesday, 4pm for their next game. UE will suit up against FEU next Saturday at 2pm. - AMD, GMA News


The scores:

UST – Lastimosa 18, Tunay 12, De Leon 13, Gutierrez 8, Cabanos 6, Meneses 5, Cortez 5

UE – Adorador 12, Bulan 11, Manasala 6, Alcayde  6, Hungriano 2, Sarmiento 1, Dacaymat 1