UST strengthens bid for last semis slot, drubs UE

By: Bong Lozada - 10 years ago

Photo by Bong Lozada/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–Still holding on to that chance to go to the Final Four are the University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses as they preyed on the winless University of the East Lady Warriors, 25-10, 25-22, 25-11, in their last elimination game of the UAAP Season 77 Women’s Volleyball tournament Saturday afternoon at the Arena in San Juan.

UST finished the eliminations with a 6-8 win-loss record and would face off with the other teams still in contention for the last semis slot.

The Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws, the Adamson University Lady Falcons and the University of the Philippines Lady Maroons are still chasing that shot, with FEU and Adamson playing as of posting time.

UST stayed sharp in the third set where they built a 13-point lead, 20-7 as the Tigresses capitalized on the numerous errors of the Lady Warriors.

Rookie Tigress EJ Laure smashed home her attack to make it 20-7 following a service error from Lady Warrior Shaya Adorador.

UST head coach Odjie Mamon said his team is in their groove at the right time, perfect for those playoff games for no.4.

“We’re peaking at the right time,” Mamon said whose wards last earned trip to the Final Four was in 2012.

He added that they tried experimenting with their game during those moments where they had the clear control of the situation.

UE’s incessant errors gave them their third straight winless season.

Laure and Pam Lastimosa led UST with 11 and 10 points, respectively while Marivic Meneses added nine.

Adorador led UE with nine points of her own.