POWERHOUSE KURASHIKI Ablaze was too hot to contain for the UST Golden Tigresses in the packed out volleyball exhibition game at the Quadricentennial Pavilion on Sept. 6., Friday.
The reinforced Tigresses bowed to the professional Japanese club in four sets, 25-21, 29-27, 17-25, 25-19, to end the University’s UAAP Season 87 kickoff party festivities.
The España squad came out firing on all cylinders with a strong a 4-0 start led by aggressive serves by playmaker Cassie Carballo. However, Kurashiki quickly bounced back with a 10-1 run, overturning the tide, 10-5.
Ablaze kept the pressure, extending its lead to seven points after the Tigresses committed unforced errors, 20-13.
Despite the efforts of power spiker Angge Poyos to mount a comeback, Ablaze took set one after an emphatic block by Malaysian-Taiwanese middle blocker Low Mei Cing, 25-21.
The early part of the second salvo followed a similar pattern, with UST taking a four-point lead after three straight errors by Kurashiki, 6-2. But things got tighter towards the end as outside hitter Kyla Cordora converted a down-the-line kill to bring UST to set point, 24-21.
Down by three, the reigning PVL Invitational Conference champions displayed composure, capitalizing on UST’s errors to steal the extended set, 29-27.
Attempting not to get swept, the tandem of outside hitter Ren Peñafiel and middle blocker Kaizah Huyno sparked a seven-point lead in the third frame, 19-12. A block from lefty rookie Tigress Ashlee Knop sealed the set to energize members of the Thomasian community at the arena, 25-17.
Kurashiki made quick adjustments and started the fourth period with captain-hitter Saya Taniguchi going on a roll with seven points in the set, 17-13.
The yet to be beaten Ablaze shut down the UAAP silver medalists after a block from middle blocker Mami Gondo on Cordora, 25-19.
“UST is a very strong team, so we are are focused to win,” Ablaze team captain Taniguchi told The Flame in Japanese.
“We played volleyball the Ablaze way,” the Japanese spiker added.
Kickstarter
Earlier in the day, the University held a kickoff party in support of the 18 UST teams that will compete in the upcoming UAAP Season 87.
The event, organized by Tiger TV and the Institute of Physical Education and Athletics, invited Thomasian student-athletes and the coaching staff to participate in a campus parade and passing of torch attended by representatives of host school University of the Philippines.
UST is the seven-straight general champion in the collegiate league. F – with reports from Shayne Lee Andreas Macaraeg
