UAAP volleyball: UST Tigresses dedicate win to absent star Poyos

UST Tigresses celebrate during a win over UP Fighting Maroons in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–Jonna Perdido amply filled the huge void left by the high-scoring Ange Poyos in a huge 25-14, 25-13, 28-30, 25-15 win by University of Santo Tomas over University of the Philippines at the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament on Wednesday.

Perdido matched her career high of 24 points built solidly around 22 attacks while hitters Reg Jurado and Xyza Gula likewise delivered as the Tigresses fortified their stronghold of the lead with a 10th victory in 11 games overall.

“We dedicate this win to Ange. This was our motivation in this game,” said Perdido after adding eight digs, four receptions and an ace.

SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 86 volleyball second round

Poyos, the Tigresses’ scoring ace, sat out this one as the rookie recovers from dehydration.

“It’s nothing serious, Ange has been under the weather since Sunday and we just gave her more time to rest and recover,” said UST coach Kungfu Reyes of his prized spiker.

Jurado tallied 21 attacks out of 24 points and had three blocks, Gula added 12 points and nine receptions and middle blocker Mae Coronado contributed nine points in a terrific effort subbing for Mary Banagua, who also didn’t see action.

Cassie Carballo fueled the engine of UST’s offense with 19 excellent sets and added six points and two aces while 5-foot-2 libero Detdet Pepito stood tall by efficiently guarding their floor with 28 digs.

Perdido exploited UP’s flawed defensive timing at the net right off the bat by driving in three straight attacks, pushing the Tigresses on top early with a five-point lead.

UST Tigresses’ Jonna Perdido during a game against UP Fighting Maroons in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Another Perdido assault in the middle followed by Coronado’s pair of blocks and Gula’s unstoppable spike widened the UST advantage further as they simply went through the motions of securing the opening set.

Perdido joined hands with Jurado in hammering the Lady Maroons in the second frame that set off the stage for another carnage.

The Tigresses mounted a 10-1 run that touched off with Jurado’s cross-court strike and never let a sizable lead whittle away with Bianca Plaza and Carballo likewise pitching in.

Jurado rattled off three consecutive points capped by an off-the-block strike before the seldom-used Maribeth Hilongo fired a crosscourt hit at set point.

“They knew Ange couldn’t not play ahead of time, so they readily embraced the responsibility,” said Reyes as they inched closer to a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four with three games remaining in the elimination phase.

“We have 12 strong ladies and everybody was willing to help in their own little way,” added Reyes.

Two sets down and staring at a sweep, the Lady Maroons could have just folded up in the ensuing set where they pushed UST to the limit and eventually snatched it.

Nica Celis leveled the count at 21 with a strong push after they chased the Tigresses all set long while Nina Ytang and Stephanie Bustrillo produced several brilliant plays in extending the match.

After Bustrillo’s back row punch, Jewel Encarnacion softly rolled a spike to an open floor without any UST challenger at set point.

Ytang led the Lady Maroons with 14 points and Bustrillo added 10 as they plummeted to a 10th defeat in 11 outings.

The Tigresses regrouped in the succeeding frame with Jurado firing at will along with Gula and Coronado for a 20-12 advantage that they never relinquished.

A net fault by Celis prior to her running hit that got blocked accelerated UP’s downfall while another deflection courtesy of Coronado on an attacking Jaboneta ended the match.