Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
University of Santo Tomas finished off its first round campaign with a three-game win streak as it disposed Far Eastern University, 25-16, 21-25, 26-24, 25-20, in the UAAP Season 79 women’s volleyball tournament Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena.
Dimdim Pacres scored on three straight aces to give the Golden Tigresses a 23-16 lead in the fourth set and while Cherry Rondina capped it all off with an off-the-block kill.
UST improved to 4-3 at the end of the first round, same slate as the Lady Tamaraws.
Golden Tigresses head coach Kung Fu Reyes relished his first win against FEU, UST’s longtime rival.
“First of all this was a huge lift to the team’s morale, and things are happening,” said Reyes, who became the team’s head coach in Season 78. “They know that things are starting to develop and all our hard work is finally paying off.”
The Golden Tigresses started the season with dismal 1-3 slate but their latest streak puts them at contention for a possible third seed finish at the end of the first round, depending on the result of the match between National University and University of the Philippines on Sunday.
EJ Laure was the high-point lass for UST with 17 points while Rondina and and Pacres had 14 and 12 points, respectively.
Toni Basas led FEU with 16 points while Bernadeth Pons had 14.