UE Lady Red Warriors. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
University of the East pulled off another upset when it dismantled University of Santo Tomas, 25-23, 18-25, 28-25, 26-24, for its second straight win in the UAAP Season 80 women’s volleyball tournament Wednesday at Filoil Flying V Centre.
The Lady Warriors notched their second win this season, already matching their combined win total from Seasons 78 and 78, against six losses and sent the Golden Tigresses to their fourth straight loss.
UE’s win marked the first time in school history that the Lady Warriors defeated UST in the Final Four era that began in the 1993-1994 academic year, and also the first time since 2012 that the Lady Warriors won two straight games.
“No words can express how happy I am right now,” said UE interim coach and athletic director Rod Roque.
From a 24-22 deficit in the fourth set, the Lady Warriors fought their way back and tied at 24-all when Shaya Adorador converted with a crosscourt kill.
Cecilia Bangad then put too much on her hit as it crossed the sideline and gave UE the 25-24 lead before another error on UST’s part gave the Lady Warriors the victory.
Roque added UE capitalized on the Golden Tigresses’ lackadaisical attitude to score the win.
“They underestimated us and that was a big factor, they thought the Lady Warriors wouldn’t put up a fight,” said Roque in Filipino. “We scouted the video, how UST’s players position themselves and we studied that and the players exchanged ideas.”
It wasn’t just in the fourth set that UST collapsed after scoring the 24th point.
The Golden Tigresses led 24-20 in the third but ultimately allowed the Lady Warriors to outscore them 8-2 to end the set at 28-26.
Mary Ann Mendrez led UE with 21 points while Adorador and Judith Abil had 15 and 10 points, apiece.
Cherry Rondina had 25 points to lead UST while Dimdim Pacres and Tin Francisco combined for 28 points.