THE UST Golden Tigresses punched their ticket to the Shakey’s Super League Pre-season Unity Cup Finals after dismantling the Adamson Lady Falcons, 25-22, 25-22, 25-20, on Sunday, Oct. 26, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Star hitter Angge Poyos led the helm with 13 kills and one block, while middle blocker Marga Altea added four attacks and four blocks.
“Adamson is not an easy opponent, but I think it is our dedication in training because since our first loss against UP, it clicked with us that it can’t happen again,” Altea said postgame.
“We still need to improve our team chemistry and we still have many lapses in our services… I think our biggest challenge is our errors,” she added.
Poyos and Adamson superstar Shaina Nitura fueled their team’s opening set with nine and seven points, respectively.
Timely blocks from Altea and a clutch finisher by Reg Jurado repelled Adamson’s late surge to seal the first frame, 25-22.
The España-based squad prevailed in the tightly contested second set, stringing together three consecutive points to break a 22-all deadlock.
Open spiker Xyza Gula then sealed the frame with a service ace to give UST a two-set advantage, 25-22.
Graduating setter Cassie Carballo orchestrated the Tigresses’ offense, helping them build a comfortable lead early in the third set and clinch a finals rematch against the NU Lady Bulldogs.
Gula and Julia Balingit each chipped in seven points, while Jurado and Avril Bron added six each.
Nitura notched 14 markers while Frances Mordi added 10 points for the Lady Falcons.
The schedule of the best-of-three finals is yet to be announced by the league. F
