UAAP: UST heads into clash vs La Salle with Poyos healthy again

The Tigresses (left photo) whoop it up as Angge Poyos is back to 100 percent in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament. —PHOTOS BY AUGUST DELA CRUZ

University of Santo Tomas (UST) was on the losing end of two revenge games in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament.

National University (NU) and Far Eastern University got the Golden Tigresses’ number in the second round, making them determined not to allow a third side do that to them with the stakes now truly high.

And instead of feeling pressure ahead of their final preliminary round clash against La Salle, the Tigresses are excited.

READ: UAAP volleyball: Back in full form, Poyos powers UST past UE

“They have watched La Salle play when they (some of the Tigresses) were in high school, and that is why they want to beat them more,” coach KungFu Reyes told the Inquirer in Filipino on Sunday when asked of the team’s mindset heading into that pivotal clash next weekend, which could be for top seeding in the Final Four.

Santo Tomas had just prevailed over eliminated University of the East, 25-19, 25-9, 25-17, at Smart Araneta Coliseum to bounce back from a five-set loss at the hands of the Lady Tamaraws the last time out.

“This is a really important game, but our last game is more important because where we end up for the twice-to-beat advantage will be determined there,” Reyes added. “We are the saling pusa (outsiders) compared to NU and La Salle, so we would really just want to gate-crash their party, and we’ll stand by what we have.”

READ: UAAP: No Angge Poyos, no problem for UST Tigresses

The Tigresses are now tied at the top with the Lady Bulldogs and La Salle at 11-2 going into their rematch with the defending champion Lady Spikers, who demolished Ateneo, 25-12, 25-12, 25-18, in the second game.

Currently third

Based on the points system, Santo Tomas is now running third when the triple tie is broken, making the La Salle-Santo Tomas game big.

Now fully recovered from dehydration, Angge Poyos, who missed a game versus University of the Philippines and played sparingly in that loss to the Lady Tamaraws, displayed her lethal form once again with 25 points built on a 45-percent attack efficiency.

Her 21 total attacks, three aces and a block against the Lady Red Warriors took the all-time highest number of points for a rookie to 268, surpassing the 267 standard held by Ateneo’s Faith Nisperos in Season 82.

READ: UAAP: UST coach says Angge Poyos still ‘not 100 percent’

“I’m happy to be back 100 percent. We didn’t play for one week, so it gave me more time to rest and recover,’’ said Poyos in Filipino.

Although Santo Tomas committed more errors than the Lady Warriors and even trailed at the start of the final frame, the Tigresses regained their composure to still come up with the straight-sets victory.

“When the young ones move better, we win points easier so when we need to keep on doing that, we will also just keep on getting points until we get the lead or keep up. That’s the thing we are looking for during games,” Reyes said.

The Tigresses, who will have six days to cool their heels and address the things they need to before facing the Taft-based side, simply cannot make the same mistakes they had in their first round clash with La Salle where they gave up the first two sets even if Angel Canino suits up or not.

“We need to clean up our act, especially our service, it’s just like a free throw shot,” Reyes said. “We practice that, but maybe they doubt themselves when they step on the service area.

“The battle here will be mind over matter.”