UST Tigresses. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
University of Santo Tomas sent University of the East reeling with a commanding three-set victory, 25-9, 25-22, 25-23, in the UAAP Season 79 women’s volleyball tournament Wednesday at Filoil Flying V Arena.
Team captain Cherry Rondina finished things off for the Golden Tigresses’ first victory in three games while the Lady Warriors are still winless with an 0-3 slate.
UST head coach Kung Fu Reyes is hoping the victory would be their catalyst moving forward into the season and that it would encourage his players to become better leaders on the floor.
“Individually, these guys are great but as a group that’s where we start to have problems,” said Reyes. “Nobody wants to take command once inside the floor, we don’t have that one person we can rely on when things get difficult.”
“It’s not someone who will score all the points in the final minutes but someone we can rely on to command the team.”
UST’s emphatic finish in the first set became an afterthought in the next two periods when UE pushed the Golden Tigresses to the brink of losing.
Fortunately for the Golden Tigresses, Laure lit up in the second set to score their last three points while Rondina took charge in the third.
Ria Meneses led paced UST with 13 points while Rondina and Laure had 12 apiece.
Jasmine Alcayde and Mary Anne Mendrez had six points each to lead UE.