UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas humbled Ateneo de Manila University yesterday 25-11, 25-20, 25-17 for a perfect start in the second round of the 2024 Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Pre-Season Championship at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
Heady setter Cassie Carballo effectively activated the Tigresses’ hitters with good ball distribution to shoot down the Blue Eagles in their 85-minute Pool F encounter.
UST’s familiarity and chemistry spelled the difference in the match that saw 12 Tigresses contributing points.
“Sobrang laking factor for us ‘yung relationship namin outside the court. Nagsisimula ‘yun sa relationship namin outside the court and nadadala namin ‘yun sa loob. Kanina, naglaro lang kami ng buo,” said Carballo, who had 13 excellent sets and three points.
Angge Poyos was on fire with 17 points, all coming from attacks including the back-to-back hits to finish the game, as UST remained unbeaten after five outings in the tournament backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, GCash, Chery Tiggo, F2 Logistics, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner, R and B Milk Tea and Summit Water.
University of the East repelled College of Saint Benilde’s late third set fightback to eke out a 25-19, 25-18, 25-23 victory in Pool E.
Casiey Dongallo and Jelai Gajero showed the way for the Lady Warriors at crunch time, pounding in crucial kills to silence the only NCAA team in the playoffs.
Jonna Perdido added nine points for the Tigresses, Regina Jurado chipped in eight while Marga Altea was the thorn in the side of Ateneo with her imposing presence at the front of the net scoring three of her seven points from kill blocks.
AC Miner finished with eight points, Yvana Sulit had six while Lyann De Guzman and Bea Buena had five markers each for Ateneo.
UST will try to draw closer to a quarterfinals twice-to-beat incentive against Far Eastern University on Friday.
in the competition, which has Smart Sports, PLDT Fibr,
UE shattered a 19-19 deadlock in the third set with three straight points to create a separation before Chenae Basarte and Clydel Catarig led the Lady Blazers’ 3-1 counterattack to close in, 23-22.
Dongallo pushed the Lady Warriors at match point. Catarig saved a point before Gajero finished off the reigning NCAA champion with a booming kill.
“Malapit na matapos ‘yung set and ‘di ‘yun ‘yung time na mag-relax pa kami. Kung patapos na we have to put all our effort na kasi lahat naman gusto nang manalo,” said Dongallo, who tallied a game-high 16 points off 15 attacks and one kill block.
Gajero and KC Cepada added seven points each for UE, which took advantage of Saint Benilde’s spotty floor defense and 24 errors.
Catarig scored 12 points and Grace Borromeo had nine in a losing effort for the Lady Blazers.
