Lady Spikers surrender twice-to-beat advantage to UST
The De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Spikers (11-3) went home without a twice-to-beat advantage after a tough battle lasting four sets, 25-22, 23-25, 16-25, 15-25, against the University of Sto. Tomas (UST) Golden Tigresses (12-2) earlier today at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
With Angge Poyos striking the match to start UST’s momentum, the Golden Tigresses quickly gained the upperhand, 0-3. But with Angel Canino awakening the Animo with her long-awaited comeback a few minutes later, the Lady Spikers managed to cut the deficit to one, 8-9. After trading service aces and errors, Shevana Laput’s down-the-line hit finally handed the lead to Taft, 14-13. But despite Laput and Canino’s combined tiemaker skills, the Lady Spikers were unable to extend their cushion to more than one with Poyos on the court. After four deadlocks, Canino and Laput’s consecutive attacks brightened La Salle’s chances of claiming the first set win, 24-21, and after a final attack from Poyos, Laput’s almighty hit ended the set for the Lady Spikers, 25-22.
Despite the first set win, the Lady Spikers failed to spark enough momentum for the second set as Jonna Perdido and Poyos landed blow after blow for the Tigresses, 2-6. Aside from Laput’s powerful attacks, the Lady Spikers relied on improved net and floor defense to gain enough traction and eventually secure a two-pt lead, 10-8. Laput and Perdido mainly pulled their respective teams after every deadlock until the Tigresses unleashed a 4-1 run to escape La Salle’s onslaught, 17-20. The set witnessed a total of 10 deadlocks before ending at 23-all. Unfortunately, Perdido and Poyos' back-to-back points were enough to secure a set in favor of UST this time, 23-25.
Although the Tigresses blazed the third set with a fatal 5-0 run, a service ace from Maicah Larroza combined with Laput and Thea Gagate’s blows eventually chipped the gap to one, 6-7. While the Lady Spikers had their fair share of errors during the set, Reg Jurado was leading the charge on UST’s side and the momentum her attacks built gave way to an eight-pt lead for the Tigresses, 10-18. However, La Salle had major difficulty recovering from their error flu and despite Amie Provido’s quick attack to stop the bleeding, Bianca Plaza and Xyza Gula snatched the set for UST once again, 16-25.
The Archers and the Tigresses traded heavy pounces and bullseyes to open the fourth set before the Laput-Canino duo took command of the artillery to take the lead for Taft this time, 7-6. However, Jurado’s triple threat attacks and Perdido’s service ace handed the lead right back to España moments later, 10-13. Another rocky sequence ensued and just with two errors from La Salle, the Perdido-Poyos duo followed through with unstoppable blocks and kills, 15-24. Concluding the set was Xyza Gula’s service ace, the final blow that extinguished La Salle’s hopes of strengthening their bout in the semis, 15-25.
Continue to support the Lady Spikers in the UAAP Season 86 Final Four matches starting next week.
Set scores: 25-22, 23-25, 16-25, 15-25
Box scores:
DLSU 1—Laput 26, Canino 13, Gagate 7, Provido 6, Malaluan 3, Coronel 2, Larroza 2, Tolentino 0, Soreño 0, Del Castillo 0, De Leon (L) 0, Hernandez (L) 0
UST 3—Poyos 22, Perdido 19, Jurado 13, Abby 5, Carballo 5, Plaza 3, Gula 2, Abellana 1, Banagua 1, Caasi 0, Coronado 0, Pepito (L) 0
