UST Tigresses’ Angge Poyos.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Angge Poyos was serenaded with MVP chants by the University of Santo Tomas faithful on Saturday in the Tigresses’ final elimination game against defending champion La Salle in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament in front of close to 15,000 fans at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
On the verge of claiming victory in the fourth set, the frenzied UST supporters made sure to give the Tigresses’ super rookie a big boost with chants of MVP when she was at the service line.
The 20-year-old Poyos starred anew for UST, which completed an elimination round sweep of La Salle after a 22-25, 25-23, 25-16, 25-15 win to clinch the last twice-to-beat berth ahead of their Final Four duel net week.
READ: UAAP: UST clinches twice-to-beat after repeating over La Salle
Poyos was inspired by the fans but she is not expecting to get the top individual award of the season as all she wants is to help deliver UST’s first championship in 13 years.
“No expectation naman na makuha ko yung award, bonus na lang siguro yun kung sakali man. Basta importante para sa akin is yung championship and yun talaga yung pinakamain goal namin this season,” she said after dropping 22 points built on 18 spikes, three blocks, and an ace.
Poyos was grateful to the UST fans, including celebrity Vice Ganda and former Tigresses Sisi Rondina, EJ and Eya Laure, and Alina Bicar, for giving them a much-needed boost in their crucial game.
READ: UAAP: UST heads into clash vs La Salle with Poyos healthy again
Poyos made a strong case for the Season 86 MVP and Rookie of the Year after emerging as the No. 2 scorer with 290 points, just a point behind University of the East star Casiey Dongallo.
For Poyos, her stellar showing in her first year is a product of the hard work of the whole UST team.
“Sobrang saya po kasi nakuha namin yung twice-to-beat advantage and talagang nagtrabaho lahat and pinagsipagan namin lahat. Nangibabaw yung puso and tapang namin today kaya nakuha namin yung panalo,” she said.
UST tries not to waste its twice-to-beat edge when it seeks to dethrone La Salle in the Final Four next week and end a five-year Finals drought.