UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas succeeded last night where other teams failed nine times this season– bring down La Salle.
With star outside hitter Eya Laure showing the way, the Golden Tigresses stunned the erstwhile unbeaten Lady Spikers, carving out a 24-19, 14-25, 25-18, 25-12 victory for their second straight win in the 85th UAAP women’s volleyball tournament before a good-sized crowd at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Laure scattered 29 points for UST, while Fil-Italian Milena Alessandrini chipped in 20 markers off 17 spikes.
Regina Jurado also had 12 hits for the Tigresses, who rose to solo third with a 7-3 mark. La Salle fell to 9-1.
UST coach Kungfu Reyes, reacting to his team’s big triumph, said: “Malaking bagay ito para sa amin kasi iyong ranking, iyong third and fourth-ranked teams magkadikit kami talaga,” Reyes said. “So, itong panalo na ito, ito iyong magiging deciding factor kahit papaano in the middle na tournament na nandoon kami sa one, two, three (spots).
“Hindi birong kalaban ang La Salle. Sa akin naman, siyempre kami naghahanap kami ng panalo. Luckily, tumama naman iyong mga galaw namin though ang dami pa ring dapat i-correct, ibabalik lang ulit naman sa training.”
In the other match, Far Eastern University tripped winless University of the East 25-16, 18-25, 25-23, 25-16 for its fourth win.
Chenie Tagaod fired 20 points for the Lady Tamaraws, while Jovelyn Fernandez added 12 markers.
Mitzi Panangin also had 11 points as the belles of strategist Tina Salak recovered from a 28-30, 12-25, 26-28 defeat to La Salle last Wednesday and improved to 5-5.
The Lady Warriors, coming off a 17-25, 16-25, 17-25 setback at the hands of UST five days ago, remained winless in 10 outings and was sent packing after the loss.
“(At) 5-5 (in the standings), masarap iyong pakiramdam. Kulang pa pero I think para ma-sustain namin iyong goal namin, kailangan namin double time ngayong (Holy Week) break.
Break namin two days lang then back to reality para lang makakuha lang din sila ng inspiration sa family, kailangan din nila iyon,” Salak said.
“For the longest of time, wala din talaga sila (players) contact sa family and through this break makakuha kami ng inspiration and when we come back din sa training at least inspired na and magkaroon rin kami ng bagong momentum.”
Prized freshman Angel Canino was the long bright spot for a usually deadly La Salle side with 13 points.
Ja Lana paced UE with 24 points on 21 attacks, while KC Cepada got 12. — With Abby Toralba
