Eya Laure and the rest of the UST Golden Tigresses celebrate during a game against the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the UAAP Season 84 women’s volleyball tournament. UAAP PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—University of Santo Tomas stopped Ateneo’s three-game winning streak, eking out a 25-19, 25-21, 29-31, 33-31 victory in the UAAP Season 84 women’s volleyball tournament Thursday at Mall of Asia Arena.
Eya Laure led the Golden Tigresses with a career-high 31 points on top of 14 excellent receptions to push her side to a 5-2 standing after the first round for solo second.
Trailing 30-31 in the fourth set, UST managed three straight hits off an Ateneo service error. KC Galdones then, followed it up with a kill block before Laure finished things off with an off-the-block hit to clinch the match.
“It felt like we played six sets,” quipped UST head coach Kungfu Reyes after the game that lasted two hours and 28 minutes. “Rollercoaster ride. The best thing about it is experiencing it where your fighting spirit shows.”
Imee Hernandez fired half of her 14 points in the fourth set for UST, while Galdones had 12 points, including three blocks. Tapia added 11 points in the win, including three in the clinching set.
Faith Nisperos paced Ateneo with 22 points while Gandler chalked up 18 points, all from spikes.
The Blue Eagles fell to 3-4 tied with University of the Philippines in fifth.