THE REIGNING champions NU Lady Bulldogs proved too formidable as they escaped the UST Golden Tigresses in a grueling five-set thriller, 15-25, 25-23, 25-17, 12-25, 15-12, to take Game 1 of the Shakey’s Super League Pre-season Unity Cup Finals on Saturday, Nov. 8, at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
After UST’s strong start and late resurgence, NU showed composure down the stretch, surging to a five to nothing run in the deciding frame to stay unbeaten.
UST skipper Detdet Pepito admitted that the Tigresses’ inconsistency came back to haunt them down the stretch.
“There are instances — not just today, even last [UAAP Season] 87 — once we win a set, our energy suddenly drops… It’s becoming a trend in our team,” she told The Flame.
The opening set saw UST take control as ace spiker Angge Poyos sparked the Tigresses’ offense, putting NU on a five-point deficit, 12-7.
Poyos once again became unstoppable as she orchestrated a blistering 8-1 run with four consecutive kills, 20-8, before rookie duo Julia Balingit and Avril Bron punctuated the stretch to hand the Tigresses the first frame, 25-15.
The defending champions responded in the second period. From a 22-all standoff, star rookie Sam Cantada’s off-speed hit and Cham Maaya’s block capped their late 3-1 run to equalize, 25-23.
NU kept its momentum in the third as Kaye Bombita and Vange Alinsug ignited a mid-set breakaway that stretched the lead into five, 19-14, before cruising to take a 2-1 set lead, 25-17.
UST roared back in the fourth with a 12-1 barrage midway through the set behind collective attacks from Xyza Gula and lefty Reg Jurado, 19-6. Middle blocker Marga Altea rejected Cantada emphatically to take a lopsided 25-12 win, forcing a winner-take-all fifth set.
The deciding frame swung back and forth early, with UST clinging to a 12-10 advantage in the crucial stretch. However, the Lady Bulldogs showed championship poise to complete the comeback and draw first blood.
Despite the loss, four UST players scored in double digits. Poyos dropped 20 markers, followed by Jurado with 12. Altea and Gula also chipped in with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Meanwhile, Cantada led NU with 18 points, while Maaya and Bombita added 14 and 11 each.
The Tigresses, now winless in six meetings with the Lady Bulldogs since UAAP Season 86 Round 1, will try to keep their title hopes alive in Game 2 on Saturday, Nov. 15, at the same venue. F
