MANILA, Philippines – De La Salle University showed no mercy against the struggling University of Santo Tomas as they trooped to their 12th win this year courtesy of a 25-23, 25-19, 25-19 victory in the 76th UAAP Women’s Volleyball tournament, Saturday, February 8, at The Arena in San Juan City.
The defending champs had to buck a tentative start, though, as they barely clawed their way past the Golden Tigresses in the opening set and had to weather a resolute UST squad in the second and third to stay unbeaten in 28 UAAP games.
Last season’s co-MVP Ara Galang keeps her consistent form going as she kick-started La Salle’s offensive in the first set to take an 18-10 lead but coach Ramil de Jesus’ girls almost blew that huge advantage as Carmela Tunay powered UST to a mini-spurt late in the game to pull to within a point, 23-24. Fortunately for the Lady Spikers, Cyd Demecillo was finally able to close the set in favor of the Taft Avenue troop, 25-23.
La Salle, on the verge of another immaculate season with only two games to go before the Final Four, then opened the floodgates in the second with Galang and Demecillo pairing up once more but the Tigresses were able to turn a nine-point deficit around as the heavy-hitting Tunay led her squad back into the game 17-21.
It was a little too late for UST, however, as Demecillo once again delivered the telling blows that ended the second, 25-19 for the Lady Spikers.
After crashing out of contention for a playoffs spot, UST put up their last stand in the third as they cruised to a 6-2 early advantage but errors halted them from extending the game into a fourth set as the Lady Spikers relied on balanced scoring to nail the third, 25-19.
La Salle, now at 12-0, got themselves a little cushion over the chasing National University who are at 11-1 with two more games to play. UST, meanwhile, manages to stay ahead of the Lady Warriors and the Maroons in the table despite dropping to a disappointing 4-8 slate.
The Lady Spikers will square off with UE on Wednesday, February 12, and against the Lady Bulldogs on Saturday, February 15 as the Tigresses face Ateneo and Adamson on February 12 and 15 respectively. – Rappler.com
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