THE UST Golden Tigresses combined rookie energy and veteran poise to outplay the Petro Gazz Angels in four sets, 25-19, 25-21, 25-27, 25-19, to cap off the UAAP Season 88 Kickoff Party on Friday, Sept. 12, at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
Winger Julia Balingit, UST’s Fil-Japanese recruit, impressed the home crowd with 14 points to help defeat the reigning Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino champions.
In his first outing back in charge of the Tigresses in 14 years, head coach Shaq delos Santos lauded the rookie’s smart style of play.
“We have high expectations for Julia [Balingit] because she is from Japan… But she still has some weaknesses we hope we can improve,” Delos Santos told The Flame.
“She plays really smart and that is one thing the team should also learn, to be gritty and smart against opponents,” he added.
Other rookies who made their debut were UST high school standouts Avril Bron, Lianne Penuliar and Fil-Am Mishka Fernandez. Meanwhile, spark-off-the-bench Xyza Gula made her comeback after a seven-month layoff from a tailbone injury.
Balingit made an immediate impact early, scoring five quick points as the Tigresses uncorked a 9-4 run midway in the first frame en route to a 25-21 set win.
UST’s second unit, led by Kyla Cordora and Marga Altea, broke away with a 7-2 run through the second frame, 22-16. Rookie Fernandez hammered the winning point to gain a two-set advantage, 25-19
The home team erased a 24-22 deficit in the third frame with a Blessing Unekwe block and a Balingit kill, forcing a 24-all deadlock.
Petro Gazz Angels then took control as veteran outside hitter Myla Pablo scored on a blockout before UST committed two straight errors, including a costly attack error by Cordora, 27-25.
The Tigresses’ trio of Angge Poyos, Gula and Balingit ignited an 8-0 run to pull ahead 18-10 in the fourth set.
UST held the lead down the stretch as Gula closed out the match with a solo block to secure the victory over the PVL squad.
Tigresses legend and two-time champion Aiza Maizo-Pontillas played quality minutes in front of the Thomasian crowd, while Petro Gazz stars MJ Phillips and Brooke Van Sickle were sidelined for the match.
The Tigresses are set to open their 2025 Shakey’s Super League Unity Cup against the UP Fighting Maroons on Sunday, Sept. 21, at the Playtime FilOil Centre. F – with reports from Joshua Louis Sumanghid
