UST opens post-Eya Laure era with clinical dismantling of NU

UST setter Cassie Carballo and the Tigresses in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Spikers Regina Jurado and Jonna Perdido and rookie Angeline Poyos just unveiled themselves as a formidable scoring trio in a jolting victory that University of Santo Tomas (UST) pulled off at the expense of perennial title contender National University.

With freshman middle blocker Mary Margaret Banagua and sophomore Bianca Plaza likewise in the mix, the Tigresses need not worry about the post-Eya Laure era.

“Eya is gone, but many of us managed to fill her spot,’’ said Poyos in helping the Tigresses frustrate the Lady Bulldogs, 25-19, 25-23, 25-22, on Sunday night at SM Mall of Asia Arena as this plucky Santo Tomas crew served notice of its readiness to contend in Season 86 of the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament.

READ: Cassie Carballo shines in UST sweep of NU in UAAP volleyball

“We just helped each other out to fill her absence,’’ added Perdido, who scored three of her team’s last four points in a pivotal second set prior to delivering the winning attack at set point as the Tigresses showed no signs of missing Laure, the team’s leader for many years who is now a superstar pro in the Premier Volleyball League.

Cassie Carballo said that she won’t encounter much problems in setting up her teammates because of the many options she now has, believing that everybody can step up to the plate.

The sophomore setter accounted for 20 excellent sets apart from six points highlighted by four aces. She punctuated UST’s season-opening win by driving it down with all her might at match point.

READ: UST ‘on right track’ after rousing opener in UAAP volleyball

“Everybody can contribute. My teammates possess the skills and my role is to make it easy for them,’’ said Carballo as Santo Tomas battles another solid foe in University of the East on Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Carballo surprised the Bulldogs with three straight aces midway in the final set, giving the Tigresses the upperhand, 11-9, that pushed the Lady Bulldogs hard against the ropes.

Totally authoritative

UST Tigresses’ Angeline Poyos.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Jurado’s crosscourt kill at the Bulldogs’ backend sealed the first set for the Tigresses. Poyos scored 16 points, including 13 attacks in her debut, along with three blocks, while Jurado and Perdido had 12 attacks each.

“I wasn’t surprised with the way we played, but I was entirely surprised with the result,’’ said UST coach Kungfu Reyes in Filipino, not expecting a quick, authoritative victory against a formidable foe.

Alyssa Solomon compiled 16 points with 14 attacks and Evangeline Alinsug added 11 for the Lady Bulldogs, while Season 84 rookie-MVP Michaela Belen scored nine points that went with 17 digs and nine receptions.

“I guess we’re just lucky enough to win this. Our hard work in practice just paid off,’’ said Reyes.

Banagua contributed 10 points and three blocks while Plaza added three points and their energy and activity in the middle definitely made the Tigresses look better. Also chipping in on the defensive end was libero Bernadett Pepito, who had 16 digs and 12 receptions.

“We study how to puncture the defense by efficiently hitting the ball. We’ve been polishing this in practice,’’ said Carballo. “We don’t just hit it randomly and hope that it gets in.’’