Laure leads UST to first V-League win over DLSU-D

MANILA, Philippines – Up and coming volleybelle EJ Laure dropped 18 points as the UST Golden Tigresses broke through the winners’ column with a victory over the still winless De La Salle-Dasmariñas Lady Patriots on Saturday, July 18.

The Gold Tigresses won 25-13, 25-12, 23-25, 25-18 over the Lady Patriots in Group B action of the Shakey’s V-League Season 12 Collegiate Conference at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan. 

Laure was subbed back in as the Lady Patriots chopped a 20-13 lead to 20-17 in the fourth set, and promptly scored on an attack to stop the Tigresses’ bleeding. She accounted for 3 of UST’s last 5 points, including the last two on a pair of kills, to improve to a 1-1 record. 

Laure’s team-high points were built on 15 spikes and 3 blocks. Veterans Pam Lastimosa and Mela Tunay backed up their fast rising rookie with 17 and 16 points, respectively, as UST’s big 3 showed poise and grit against a determined DLSU-D side. 

Lastimosa proved lethal from the service deck with 6 aces to go with 11 attack points while Tunay, who also converted a point towards the end of the fourth, had 4 service aces and 6 excellent digs. Both players checked back into the game right before Laure did late in set 4 to re-establish control. 

“Ni-remind sa amin ni coach yung goal namin which is to win. So pinagtrabahuhan namin ‘yun (Coach reminded us of our goal which is to win. So we worked on it),” said Lastimosa, who will be playing her last year for UST in UAAP Season 78 together with Tunay. 

Middle hitter Jessey De Leon had 3 blocks as part of her 8 point-contribution. Setter Alex Cabanos outplayed former FEU star setter Gyzelle Sy in successful sets 17-14 as she also registered 4 points, all from service aces. 

Cherry Rose Nunag and Iumi Yongco carried DLSU-D with 11 and 10 points, respectively. Both were critical in an inspired third set turnaround where the Lady Patriots led by as much as 17-10 before the Tigresses stormed back and tied the count at 23-all.

But Laure gave DLSU-D set point as her service went wide before reinforcement Desiree Dadang sealed that comeback set with a tip-in.

The Lady Patriots, which suffered a tough meltdown against newcomers Technological Institute of the Philippines last Sunday, wanted to return the favor to the Tigresses, which led two sets to none.

But UST was off to an 8-4 start in the fourth and DLSU-D’s floor defense struggled as the 3-time National Capital Region Athletic Association champions absorbed their second straight defeat. 

UST’s next game is on Sunday, July 26, against College of St Benilde while DLSU-D takes on rival school Ateneo in the same day’s main game. – Rappler.com