MANILA, Philippines – Looking at a possible comeback, the National University Lady Bulldogs clamped down on the University of Santo Tomas Tigresses 3-2, 25-23, 25-22, 20-25, 22-25, 15-9, in the final moments of their UAAP Season 77 Volleyball showdown at the Mall of Asia Arena Wednesday afternoon.
Jaja Santiago proved to be a superb closer for NU with back-to-back hits that landed on the UST field, one of which made a pit stop on Jessey De Leon, that put NU on the 3-3 win-loss card.
With the win, NU tied the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws for fourth.
Newly minted NU head coach Roger Gorayeb, who arrived at the game late, said it was all on the players who brought the victory.
“I told them that they have the skill and they should know that they have that skill,” Gorayeb said who was with the team for only three days.
“Their moves are still tentative though.”
NU looked to have it in the bag with a 2-0 set lead but the Tigresses roared back from the 18-20 scoreline in the third set with a 7-0 run with Chloe Cortez capping it all off with a service ace that gave UST the third set and an extra life.
A fourth set shocker from UST to tie the match went for naught in the fifth when NU and Santiago made sure that they would get to the .500 mark.
Santiago was once again on point with 28 points with Myla Pablo contributing 15.
Rookie Tigress EJ Laure paced UST with 16 points, and Pam Lastimosa and Mela Tunay added 13 and 10 respectively but they could not salvage a victory as UST fell to its fifth straight loss and a 1-5 card for seventh place.