Ateneo ends UST’s Final Four hopes with straight sets win

MANILA, Philippines – The University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses formally bowed out of the Final Four contentions as Ateneo de Manila University tamed them in straight sets, 25-18, 25-21, 25-23, in the 76th UAAP Women’s Volleyball tournament, Wednesday, February 12 at The Arena in San Juan City.

The Lady Eagles relied on Michelle Morente as she rose up to the occasion, scoring 14 points to lead her squad to their ninth win in 13 games and will hope to ride the momentum when they face Far Eastern University in their last match in the eliminations.

Clinging on the tiny chance of still making it to the playoffs, UST went on to a sizzling start as they rushed to a 4-1 early lead but Morente soared for the Katipunan Avenue side to overtake the Tigresses and register a 7-4 bubble.

Pam Lastimosa, however, towed her squad back to steal an 8-7 lead before Ateneo finally had their game going, putting on a 5-0 run to win the set 25-18.

The Lady Eagles then cruised to a 22-15 second frame lead but UST fought back and chased Ateneo late in the set. It was a little too late for the Tigresses, though, as they eventually lost steam and handed the already postseason qualified ADMU side a 25-21 win to lead by two sets.

UST gave all they got in the do-or-die third set as they kept the game close, tying the game at 15-all after a Morado error.

The see-saw battle went on as Morente and Carmela Tunay swapped points towards the endgame with UST leading Ateneo by a hairline, 23-22, but the Lady Eagles got their bearings fixed as put on a composed game to score three consecutive and finish off the Tigresses, 25-23.

Ateneo, already locked in third place in the table, improves their standing to 9-4 while the Tigresses fall to 4-9 to officially blow its bid of joining FEU and Adamson University in a three-team logjam for fourth at the end of the eliminations.

The Tigresses will play for pride against the Lady Falcons in their last assignment on Saturday, February 15 while Ateneo will go up against the Tamaraws on the last gameday of the season on Sunday, February 16. – Rappler.com