UAAP: UST wards off Adamson behind Poyos’ career-best, bags Final 4 slot

Angge Poyos fires off a career-best to lead the UST Tigresses in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–Angeline Poyos erupted with a season-high 31 points as University of Santo Tomas seized the first Final Four spot in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament at the expense of Adamson, 22-25, 25-20, 26-24, 25-20, on Wednesday night.

Revitalized following a long break, Poyos hammered the enemy with 27 attacks on top of three aces and a block in carrying the Tigresses to their ninth victory with only one setback to show.

“This is a comeback game for us. I used the break to reflect and recover. I’m thankful that I was able to contribute and give my 100 percent in this game,’’ said Poyos after matching the output of former UST star Eya Laure in Season 84 against Ateneo.

SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 86 volleyball second round

Riding high on an eight-game win run, the Tigresses saw their bid for a possible sweep vanish after the National University Lady Bulldogs cut their streak before the lenten break.

UST Tigresses in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Jonah Perdido backstopped Poyos with 12 points apart from 13 receptions, two blocks and a serve while Reg Jurado also contributed 12 points that went along with 11 digs.

“There’s a bit of luck that we were able to reach the Final Four. They earned the dividends of their hard work and sacrifice,’’ said UST coach Kungfu Reyes after reaching the semifinals for the fourth consecutive season.

READ: UAAP: UST ‘needs’ better performance despite unbeaten mark

Bernadett Pepito protected their fort with 17 receptions and 21 digs while Cassie Carballo had 19 excellent sets that produced a great fraction of their 64 kills.

The Lady Falcons spooked UST in the opening frame with Barbie Jamili and Ishie Lalongisip springing surprises at the net.

Lalongisip tied the count with an authoritative hit and Jamili delivered their last three points of the first set that caught the Tigresses off guard.

Jamili punched a cross court hit to UST’s back row followed by a block-touch smash before sealing it with an off-speed spike.

The Tigresses immediately regrouped in the second set, but not without any threat dangling over their heads.

Poyos attacked twice which sandwiched Jurado’s off-the-block kill to rescue them from a see-saw encounter.

Bianca Plaza stealthily added a quick push and an ace by Poyos put the Tigresses at a safer distance, 22-17, before the Lady Falcons committed back-to-back errors that weakened their cause.

Jurado ended the set by driving in another powerful smash as UST equalized entering the third set.

Jamili led the Lady Falcons with 20 attacks with Lalongisip adding 14 points and Ayesha Juegos chipping in 12 in another sorry loss, their seventh overall in nine games.

The Tigresses seemed headed to clinching the next frame as Poyos bore holes into the Adamson defense.

But errors hounded them, allowing the Lady Falcons to strike back with May Ann Nuique’s down-the-line hammer tying it at 24. Plaza saved the Tigresses with a back row spike and an ace at set point.

Poyos again took over near the end of the fourth and final set, scoring on a variety of hits capped by a powerful jump serve and allowing UST to pull away for good.

Jurado punched a crosscourt smash and Perdido knocked down a backend spike before Mary Coronado closed it out with a down-the-line kill.

“We’ll just keep on grinding. Prepare hard for the succeeding games, sharpen our skills and correct our errors,’’ said Reyes as they aim for the No. 1 spot with four games remaining that goes with a twice-to-beat edge in the semifinals.