UST Tigresses claim 2nd seed in Final Four
By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
THE UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses enter the Final Four of women’s volleyball in Season 81 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines as the number-two seed after edging defending champions De La Salle Lady Spikers in four sets, 25-14, 25-23, 23-25 and 25-19, in their one-game playoff for the second spot on Wednesday at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan City.
Afforded an opportunity to claim the second spot when they and the Lady Spikers wound up with identical 10-4 records at the end of elimination play last weekend, the Tigresses took full advantage of it and spiritedly played and came out steadier in the playoff to get the better of La Salle and finish second with the twice-to-beat advantage to boot in the semifinal.
The Tigresses came out galloping to start the contest, racing to a 16-11 lead by the second technical timeout of the first set.
La Salle tried to shoot its way back but UST, on the lead of Sisi Rondina and Eya Laure, would not allow any Lady Spikers comeback as it sped with a 9-3 blast to claim the set and the 1-0 lead.
In the second set the two teams slugged it out early but the Tigresses took early advantage, 8-6.
Rondina And Company then made a ferocious run to extend their lead to eight points, 16-8, midway.
La Salle, however, would respond with a strong run of its own as Des Cheng and May Luna started humming.
They led the Lady Spikers’ 9-1 run to narrow the gap at 18-17.
UST remained undeterred by it and instead of folding it buckled down to work to create another separation, 24-18.
La Salle though was not to go down without a fight, charging back to come within a point anew, 24-23, and angling to pull the rug from under UST.
It efforts were eventually crushed as Laure connected with a kill to close out the set and send the Tigresses up, 2-0.
Unlike the first two sets, La Salle had a fast start to begin the third frame, building a 6-1 advantage.
The Tigresses did not stay down for long, outscoring their opponents, 7-1, to overtake the Lady Spikers and squeak past, 8-7, by the first technical break.
A back-and-forth ensued with UST still managing to stay on top, 16-15, by the halfway point.
The Lady Spikers got an early cushion in the homestretch with Luna taking charge, helping her team to a 21-18 advantage.
Rondina once again would rally her team back, reclaiming the edge, 23-22.
La Salle dug deep after, first tying the count at 23-all before going for two points to win the frame and stay in the contest, 2-1.
The fourth set began nip-and-tuck until the Tigresses made a mini run to take a 16-13 lead by the second technical break. Having the momentum, UST did not relent from there. With Rondina from the firing end, they raced to a 22-16 advantage and never looked back after.
Rondina led UST with 29 points, 27 of which from attacks. Laure backstopped her with 17.
Rookie Jolina Dela Cruz paced La Salle with 12 points.
“We really wanted to win this game. We said to ourselves we have nothing to lose and that we just have to go for it and play,” said Rondina after their victory.
“But there is no relaxing right now. We will continue working and stay on the same page to achieve our goals,” she added.
UST and La Salle will begin their Final Four matchup on Sunday, May 5.
