Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
University of Santo Tomas closed in on a third place finish after surviving Adamson, 25-20, 27-29, 13-25, 25-19, 17-15, in the Premier Volleyball League Collegiate Conference Sunday at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
Milena Alessandrini and Eya Laure combined for 52 points to power the Golden Tigresses, who shoot for the bronze on Wednesday.
“Everyone contributed so that’s good for us,” said UST head coach Kungfu Reyes in Filipino.
But it was the young guns Alessandrini and Laure, who took charge and helped the Golden Tigresses recover from a major meltdown in the second set, where they blew a 24-19 cushion after committing a slew of errors.
“Like what we told our players, it was their own doing,” Reyes said of his team’s collapse in the second set. “We let Adamson gain momentum due to our errors and we were not able to stop them.”
“Fortunately for us, the players got their grit back,” he added.
Alessandrini starred with a game-high 31 points, including 24 kills and six blocks, while Laure added 21, highlighted by five service aces. The two also teamed up for 18 digs.
Four Lady Falcons hit double-figure scoring led by Eli Soyud’s 22. Chiara Permentilla and Mary Joy Dacoron tallied 18 apiece while Bernadette Flora chipped in 11.
Adamson had a pair of costly miscues–both net touch violations–that handed UST the pulsating victory.