CRUCIAL ERRORS plagued the UST Golden Tigresses, leading to a 25-19, 19-25, 25-21, 20-25, 10-15 defeat against the FEU Lady Tamaraws in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament on Saturday, April 13.
FEU’s win at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium secured their Final Four spot with a 7-4 win-loss record.
Despite the loss, UST remains the number one team with a 10-2 record.
The Tigresses started strong in the first set, led by rookie star Angge Poyos, who controlled UST’s offense. The teams traded leads before UST pulled away, courtesy of a Mae Coronado block, 21-19.
Opposite hitter Reg Jurado drained a crosscourt kill to seal the set, 25-19.
The second set saw the Lady Tamaraws retaliate quickly, building a four-point lead, 16-12. FEU capitalized on UST’s struggles, eventually snatching the set after an error by Jurado, 25-19.
The top-seeded UST initially trailed in the third set, but Poyos’ successive attacks sparked a 6-2 run for the Tigresses, 22-18.
A crucial service error by FEU’s setter Tin Ubaldo allowed UST to take a 2-1 set lead, 25-21.
The fourth set was a tense affair with neither team backing down. UST faced a three-point deficit after opposite hitter Faida Bakanke stopped Jurado’s attempt, 22-19.
Aly Devosora of FEU served an ace to extend the match, 25-20.
With the score tied at two sets apiece, the neighbors traded blows before UST’s crucial errors allowed FEU to pull ahead, 12-7. The game ended after an anticlimactic error from Jurado, 15-10.
UST suffered 36 unforced errors compared to FEU’s 27.
“I think communication and enjoyment, that’s where we really lacked,” Poyos told The Flame. “We committed errors, especially at the end of the fourth and fifth set.”
Even with this loss, UST is still in contention for a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four.
Poyos, coming from a minor injury, led UST with 20 points, including 14 attacks, four aces and two blocks. Jurado and Jonna Perdido notched 15 and 12 markers, respectively.
For FEU, Faida Bakanke, named Player of the Game, poured in 21 points, while middle blocker Jean Asis contributed 16 markers.
The Tigresses aim to bounce back from this loss as they square up against the UE Lady Warriors on April 21 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. F
