University of Santo Tomas moved on the verge of sweeping the first round following a 25-22, 25-20, 26-24 win over University of the Philippines in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament yesterday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Golden Tigresses survived a close encounter in the third set to complete the victory and hike their standing to a league-best 6-0 record — their best start since Season 73 in 2011.
UST coach Kungfu Reyes said their adjustment did wonders, leading to the victory that put them one win away from sweeping the first round of this prestigious collegiate tournament.
“Again, we respect our opponent because we know that they can beat us. The match was so tied, especially in the last set, but we made some adjustments and managed to get the rhythm that led us to this victory,” Reyes said.
With UP threatening to extend the match, Angge Poyos delivered a down-the-line hit to break a 23-all deadlock in the third set and put UST at match point.
Stephanie Bustrillo, however, answered back with a cross-court hit to send the game to a deuce.
Poyos then took over anew, delivering a kill before Regina Jurado completed the hard-fought win with an off-the-block attack.
Poyos, a 20-year-old rookie out of Balilihan, Bohol, posted a game-high 22 points on 18 attacks and four aces to lead UST’s one-hour and 38-minute victory.
Xyza Gula registered a triple-double of 14 points on 12 attacks and two aces, to go along with 12 excellent receptions and 10 excellent digs while Jurado added 12 points.
Cassie Carballo tossed 16 excellent sets to go along with two markers while Bernadett Pepito had 15 excellent digs in for the Golden Tigresses.
The winless Fighting Maroons, who have now dropped their sixth consecutive game, were led by Bustrillo with 14 points on 11 attacks and three blocks.
UST aims to complete its first-round sweep when it faces Adamson University on Saturday while UP looks to bounce back versus University of the East on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Meanwhile, Adamson and UST regained their winning touches after ripping their respective foes in the men’s division early in the day.
The Falcons bounced back from a sorry loss to Far Eastern University as they shocked Ateneo de Manila University, 28-26, 25-22, 30-28, while the Golden Spikers snapped their three-game slide as they clobbered winless Fighting Maroons, 25-23, 25-14, 25-16, in the first game.
The Golden Spikers, who won their first two matches before losing to De La Salle University, FEU and Ateneo, respectively, improved their record to 3-3 after the skid-busting victory.
“We went back to the drawing board to arrest our three-game streak and carefully pinpoint how we can recover. I’m glad that everybody stepped up and did their part during this game,” UST assistant coach Benjamin Mape said.
After a slow start in the opener, the Golden Spikers took it up a notch in the next two frames and dominated the Fighting Maroons with Josh Ybañez leading the way with a game-high 21 points on 18 attacks, two blocks, and one ace.
Ybañez, who hurt his left ankle after landing on a teammate’s foot late in the second set but managed to return to the game, also had 11 excellent receptions and six excellent digs in the one-hour, seven-minute contest.
UST slowly pulled away in the third set before Dux Yambao stepped on the gas and led a 7-2 run that stretched a 17-13 lead to a 24-15 advantage. Ybañez committed a service error before Trevor Valera finished the game with a quick.
Rainier Flor added 11 points on nine attacks and two blocks while Gboy De Vega and Sherwin Umandal chipped in eight markers apiece for the Golden Spikers.
Yambao tossed 16 excellent sets, to go along with five points, while Van Prudenciano registered 11 excellent digs and 11 excellent receptions.
