UST grabs solo third at UAAP 88 women’s volleyball tournament

Games on Wednesday
(Mall of Asia Arena)
9 a.m. – Ateneo vs UP (Men)
11 a.m. – FEU vs DLSU (Men)
1 p.m. – Ateneo vs UP (Women)
3 p.m. – FEU vs DLSU (Women)

UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas (UST) handed University of the East (UE) its 25^th straight loss, 25-21, 26-24, 25-20, and shored up its final four drive in the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball on Sunday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.

The UST Golden Tigresses survived a second-set meltdown to notch their fifth win in the last six games, slowly but surely peaking at the right time with a 7-4 slate, including a 3-0 record at home as the UAAP’s alternative venue since last season for basketball.

With a crucial streak entering the last three games, Santo Tomas momentarily seized solo third spot to stay in the thick of the race of a twice-to-beat incentive in the semifinals.

Top MVP contender Angge Poyos fired 17 points on 14 hits, two aces and a block laced by nine digs and six receptions for yet another all-around brilliance.

Cassie Carballo provided 17 sets as Regina Jurado added 11 points while Avril Bron (8), Blessing Unekwe (6) and Xyza Gula (5) chipped in key contributions for the wards of coach Shaq delos Santos, the author of Santo Tomas’ last UAAP title in 2010.

But the Golden Tigresses are far from satisfied, staying hungry to snatch the win-once edge from reigning champion National University (NU), ahead of its vital encounter against Adamson University this Saturday.

That resolve was on full display in the second set as Santo Tomas recovered from wasting a massive 24-15 gap.

After allowing a deuce as UE launched a staggering 9-0 rally, Shania Olmoguez served an ace before Ms. Bron finished it off with a kill block as the Golden Tigresses coasted to a sweep in the third set.

Khy Cepeda (17) and Bea Zamudio (12) led the way for the also-ran UE Lady Warriors, who slid to 0-11 entering another tall order to snap a long skid since last season against NU this Sunday at the same venue.

In the men’s division, Santo Tomas (7-4) eliminated UE (1-9), 22-25, 25-15, 25-19, 25-23, and firmed up grip on the third spot behind the 25 points of two-time MVP Josh Ybañez. — John Bryan Ulanday