UST Tigresses against Perpetual Help Lady Altas in the Shakey’s Super League battle for bronze. MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — After a heartbreaking semifinal meltdown last week, University of Santo Tomas made sure to close out the game this time as it dominated University of Perpetual Help, 25-15, 25-22. 25-15. to inch closer to a bronze medal in the Shakey’s Super League National Invitationals on Wednesday at FilOIl EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
Licking the wounds of their 25-22, 18-25, 25-14, 24-26, 24-26 loss to UAAP champion La Salle in the knockout semis last Friday, Regina Jurado and rookie Angeline Poyos vented their ire on the Lady Altas, sweeping Game 1 of the best-of-three battle for third series in just one hour and 17 minutes.
Jurado scored 10 of her 19 points in the third set to complete their dominant win, where she also fired five aces, while UST high school product Poyos, who exploded for 29 points in the semis, sustained her fine play with 13 points including the clutch attacks in the second set.
Mary Rhose Dapol gave Perpetual Help a 20-19 lead in the second but Poyos came to the rescue and scored three clutch attacks to lift UST at set point, 24-22, before a net touch from the opposing side gave them a two-set advantage.
Tigresses coach KungFu Reyes was thrilled to see the potential shown by his young team, which lost Eya Laure, Imee Hernandez, and Milena Alessandrini. Mary Banagua and Xyza Gula also stepped up with 10 points each with Cassie Carballo pacing the team plays and libero Detdet Pepito protecting the floor.
UST Tigresses’ Angeline Poyos at the Shakey’s Super League. MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
“This is a good indication for our team. They may be young but promising as individuals and as a group. Although we lost a lot of seniors, our team never became weak because ever since, regardless of who the players are, they are working hard to make a name for themselves in front of the fans here in the collegiate ranks,” said Reyes in Filipino.
The longtime UST coach felt a tinge of regret after missing a chance to upset the Lady Spikers last week after they blew a 24-21 lead in the fourth set. But they chose to use their learnings heading to the final stretch of the national tournament.
“I’m happy because the players performed, but La Salle is La Salle. We won’t stop until we reach their level and we will use them as reference to improve our program. It was a missed opportunity when the match was forced to a fifth set because they are really a tall team,” said Reyes. “We’re happy with the performance but we have to learn how to close out games.”
Reigning NCAA MVP Dapol was the lone bright spot for Perpetual Help with 12 points as they try to equalize the series on Saturday at 2 p.m.