UAAP: Recharged Angge Poyos electrifies with career high for UST

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

MANILA, Philippines — Angge Poyos made the most of the Holy Week break to recover physically and mentally as she resumed her impressive rookie campaign for the University of Santo Tomas with a new career-high 31 points.

Recharged from a 10-day break after their tough four-set loss to National University, Poyos set a new modern UAAP women’s volleyball rookie scoring record on Wednesday.

She nailed 27 kills, three aces, and a block to help clinch UST’s ticket to the Final Four with a 22-25. 25-20, 26-24, 25-20 victory over Adamson on Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.

SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 86 volleyball second round

“Sobrang laking bagay nung break kasi nga nagkaroon ako ng time na mag-reflect, mag-recover, lalo na sa tuhod ko. Thankful kasi 100 percent na ako this game,” said Poyos, who returned to practice on Easter Sunday.

The super rookie had a chance to visit her family in Bohol and recover from the minor knee injury she sustained at the start of the second round.

Poyos surpassed University of the East rookie Casiey Dongallo’s 30-point effort this Season 86. She also matched Eya Laure’s 31-point explosion in Season 84 two years ago.

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

The UST High School product was pleased with the Tigresses’ performance as they were able to bounce back from their first loss of the season at the hands of the NU Lady Bulldogs.

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

“Thankful kasi comeback game for us kasi natalo kami nung last game namin against NU. Nakapag-contribute pa rin ako sa team. Thankful kasi nakabalik at thankful din ako sa mga teammates ko kanila ate kasi patuloy silang kumakapit at lumalaban para sa team,” said Poyos.

UST coach KungFu Reyes lauded Poyos for accepting his challenge to step up for UST, which is playing without former star Laure after four seasons.

And the 20-year-old rookie exceeded his expectations. 

“Nung naglaro sila ng high school sa UAAP, hindi ganun ka-stunning at hindi ka ma-iimpress,” said Reyes. “Nakikita naman namin ‘yung potensyal ng mga bata… Nagugulat lang kami kasi nandito na kami, 9-1 na kami. Nagugulat kami sa result pero ‘yung sa galaw nila, ‘yun na ‘yun eh. Lumalabas na talaga ‘yung pinaghihirapan nila.”