THE UST Golden Tigresses kept their fate in their hands after clawing the UP Fighting Maroons in four sets, 23-25, 25-21, 25-22, 25-19, to bolster their Final Four bid in the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball tournament on Sunday, April 19, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Ace spiker Angge Poyos dropped a double-double performance of 25 points and 11 digs, pushing UST ahead of FEU for fourth place at 8-5.
“This game is very crucial and our mindset as a team was just to give our best and give an [all-out performance]. We should be at our 100 percent and not doubt ourselves,” Poyos said postgame.
“I’m thankful that everyone performed in this crucial game,” the MVP frontrunner added.
Lefty Tigresses Reg Jurado and Jonna Perdido added 17 and 13 markers, respectively, while team captain Detdet Pepito manned the defense with 18 digs and 13 receptions.
Both teams traded runs to open the game, as UP veteran Niña Ytang scored back-to-back quick attacks to tie the match, 15-all.
Two straight attack errors by UST allowed UP to pull away, with team captain Irah Jaboneta and Ytang taking advantage for a first set win, 25-23.
It was a similar affair in the second frame until Jurado scored a timely block and ace to give UST a 17-14 lead.
The Diliman squad had a late 4-1 rally before Jurado delivered the crosscourt kill to tie the match one set apiece, 25-21.
UST set the tone early in the third set after an ace by Cassie Carballo, but three straight blocks from UP middle blocker Bienne Bansil kept the game tight, 16-15.
Rookie duo of Avril Bron and Lianne Penuliar came alive late for the Tigresses, scoring three straight, as Poyos hammered the finisher to lead the match 2-1, 25-22.
In the fourth set, Poyos hammered five straight kills to trigger a 7-2 blitz for a 9-6 edge.
A one-two play by Carballo gave them a seven-point cushion before Perdido and Jurado put the finishing touches to secure the win.
Graduating seniors Ytang and Jaboneta combined for 35 points as UP closed its season at 5-9 in sixth place.
The Tigresses will end the elimination round with a must-win clash against the defending champions NU Lady Bulldogs on Wednesday, April 22, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum. F
