UAAP: UST rookie Poyos, FEU’s Ariel Cacao off to torrid starts

UST rookie Angge Poyos.–UAAP PHOTO

Angge Poyos introduced herself in the UAAP scene by leading University of Santo Tomas to a 3-0 slate after the first week of action, including two huge wins against powerhouses NU Lady Bulldogs and De La Salle Lady Spikers — the finalists in the last two seasons.

With the torrid start in her collegiate career, Poyos was hailed by the Collegiate Press Corps as the UAAP Player of the Week from February 17 to 25.

In men’s action, setter Ariel Cacao has been orchestrating a balanced offense to keep Far Eastern University the lone unbeaten team with a 3-0 record.

The sophomore playmaker dished out 15 excellent sets and scored five points as FEU swept the winless University of the East, 25-22, 25-17, 25-15, to earn the men’s weekly recognition.

FEU Tamaraws’ Ariel Cacao.–UAAP PHOTO

Poyos averaged 20 points in the three matches including a career-best output of 24 points in her first of many battles with another sensational rookie Casiey Dongallo from the University of the East.

But it was in the duel against the defending champion where she truly made her mark after showcasing a grace under pressure as no less than a rookie.

The 5-foot-8 outside hitter scored four of her 22 points in the deciding set including two in the 6-0 finishing kick of the Golden Tigresses to stun the Lady Spikers, 25-18, 25-23, 14-25, 16-25, 15-12.

Despite her steady performance in their first three outings, which also included a 16-point debut against NU, the UST High School product hopes for more consistency moving forward.

“I can say that this is what I can do for my team. This is the Angge that everyone is expecting,” said Poyos in Filipino. “But the best is yet to come.”

Poyos edged out other candidates in teammate Bernadett Pepito, La Salle’s Angel Canino, and UE’s Dongallo for the weekly recognition voted by the print and online scribes regularly covering the beat.

“I’m super happy because I’ve been contributing to my team and slowly becoming consistent this time. I hope I will continue to fight harder in our future games,” she said.

Meanwhile, the 22-year-old Cacao had 14 excellent sets as three Tamaraws scored in double figures to sweep University of the Philippines and tallied his season-best 24 excellent sets in their four-set triumph over La Salle.

“I’m confident with my teammates. I know that they score and attack hard whoever receives my set because we’ve been doing this in practice,” said Cacao, who bested UST’s Josh Ybañez and La Salle’s Noel Kampton for the first men’s volleyball Player of the Week for Season 86.

“It’s a good start for us. It gives our team confidence and we hope to continue to play better in our upcoming games.”