Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—University of Santo Tomas took a share of the second spot at the end of the first round after upending University of the East, 25-18, 25-14, 25-20, in the UAAP Season 81 women’s volleyball tournament Sunday at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
The Golden Tigresses have racked up three straight wins for a 5-2 record to tie defending champion De La Salle while the Lady Warriors dropped their fourth straight game for a 1-6 card.
It wasn’t much of a contest as the Golden Tigresses had their way against UE’s hapless defense that included freezing out Kath Arado in every way possible.
Dimdim Pacres scored two straight points to give UST an 18-11 lead in the third set before Eya Laure and Cherry Rondina took over later in the period.
Laure punished the Lady Warriors with a sickening kill for the 24-19 match point before Rondina ended the affair with a booming crosscourt.
UST head coach Kung Fu Reyes admired how his team’s first round campaign ended, but he knew it would’ve been better if Season 80 Rookie of the Year Milena Alessandrini didn’t injure her left knee.
“We had an amazing start regardless if we went 2-2 before but I saw the great development of my players and of my team,” said Reyes in Filipino. “The only bad thing that happened to us was Milena got injured.”
“This start is a good motivation for us going into the second round.”
Rondina led all scorers with 17 points with Laure pitching in 15 but they weren’t the only Golden Tigreses who had considerable impact on the offensive end.
Caitlyn Viray, Pacres, and Kecelyn Galdones had eight points apiece for UST.
Judith Abil led the Lady Warriors’ offense with 15 points with Arado settling for 11 excellent digs and 12 successful receptions.