UST keeps Ateneo in losing skid, exacts revenge from S84 knockout
By Joie Frances Timbas
Hungry for vengeance, the UST Golden Tigresses (4–2) kept the Ateneo Blue Eagles (1–5) in the losing column via a sweep, 25–19, 25–23, 25–14, to secure their second consecutive win in the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament, Wednesday afternoon, at the Fil-Oil EcoOil Center in San Juan.
Ateneo ended the Golden Tigresses’ Season 84 cinderella run in their postseason, stepladder matchup last year.
A close battle ensued as UST notched an early, small edge, 8–6. Despite the errors, Ateneo pushed and caught up to within two, 18–16, but it was a Faith Nisperos’ service hiccup that kept the Tigresses on their toes to pull away with the set, 25–19.
It was the same start in the second set, as UST led, 8–7. As the teams exchanged points and lead changes that stretched until set point where the Blue Eagles saved four set points, their late effort was eradicated by a powerful Eya Laure backrow attack, 25–23.
In what became the final set, rising rookie Regina Jurado took control as the Tigresses fired an 8–2 blast to put the game at 11–5. With back-to-back service aces, Jurado iced the Blue Eagles’ defense to end the match in a clean sweep, 25–14.
Jurado led the way with 15 markers from 12 attacks and three aces, while Laure notched 10 points and 12 excellent digs. They were the only Golden Tigresses to score in double-digits.
“Syempre masaya, dedepensa ka na lang, siya (Jurado) na ang papatay,” Laure said in the post-game conference after being outscored by the super rookie.
Meanwhile for Ateneo, Vanessa Gandler led the losing effort with 13 points, seven etched in the first set. Behind her was Nisperos and Lyann De Guzman with 11 apiece.
UST dominated in service aces with a total of five and committed less errors whereas and without any service errors.
On the other hand, Ateneo was unable to record a single service ace, and committed 25 unforced errors compared to the Tigresses’ 12.
Untouched in set count since their last loss to Adamson University, the Golden Tigresses look to stay clean as they clash against the winless UE Lady Warriors (0–7) on Saturday, at the same venue.
