Rookie star Laure leads UST past FEU for 4th straight W

MANILA, Philippines – At the end of the first round of the UAAP Season 77 women’s volleyball tournament, UST was sitting at 2-5, closer to last place in the league standings than to a Final Four slot. 

On Sunday, February 1, the Golden Tigresses are back at .500, 5-5, and in sole possession of the third seed following a 25-19, 25-21, 25-23 victory over the FEU Lady Tamaraws at the San Juan Arena. 

(RELATED: UE falls again as Adamson snaps losing streak)

Rookie sensation EJ Laure sparked the Golden Tigresses with 16 points in Sunday’s win, which follows their impressive three-set victory over the NU Lady Bulldogs last Wednesday, January 28. 

Team Captain Pam Lastimosa put up 12 points, while veteran Carmela Tunay scored 9 for UST, who looks like a totally different team from the one that under-performed in the first few weeks of the season. 

UST came out of the gates the more aggressive squad, as early conversions by Laure helped them erect a four-point lead. Both teams exchanged conversions for the rest of the set, which the Golden Tigresses easily won. 

FEU’s lackluster play continued early in the second period, where they trailed 7-2. But thanks to a quick 6-0 rally, the Lady Tams took the lead. Both teams went back-and-forth after, but it was UST that eventually established a lead. After they went ahead 21-17, the Tigresses maintained their advantage for a 2-0 sets advantage.

UST trailed early in the third set, but utilized an 11-4 run that changed the output of the contest. After the Lady Tams re-took a 22-20 lead later on, the Golden Tigresses finished the game with a 5-1 run that awarded them their fourth straight win. 

UST had 40 spike points while FEU put up just 27. The Golden Tigresses also recorded more block scores, 7-2.  

No FEU player scored in double-figures. Jerrili Malabanan led the team with 6 points, while Bernadeth Pons and Charlemagne Simborio recorded 5 markers each. 

– Rappler.com