ANGGE Poyos’ record-breaking 31 points steered University of Sto. Tomas past Adamson, 22-25, 25-20, 26-24, 25-20, and into the Final Four of the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Poyos eclipsed University of the East ace Casiey Dongallo’s UAAP rookie scoring record by a single point with 27 attacks on three aces and one block.
READ: NU Lady Bulldogs stretch win run to three after rout of UE
Following UST’s best-ever prelims start in the Final Four era at 8-0, the Tigresses are now through to the semifinals at 9-1 for the fourth straight season and will next shoot for one of two twice-to-beat incentives in the playoffs.
"Siyempre masaya kasi nga, maraming nagsasabi before na talagang 'Mini Miss UST' kami tapos may nababasa pa kami na parang 'kakarnehin' keme-keme ganun. Pero happy kami, kasi gusto naming i-prove na wala po sa height, nasa puso po yun," said UST captain Detdet Pepito who logged 21 digs and 17 receptions.
Poyos added: "Thankful kasi comeback game for us kasi natalo kami nung last game namin against NU. Thankful kasi nakapag-contribute pa rin ako sa team. Nagka-break, ginawa ko 'yung [necessary preparations], nag-reflect ako at nag-recover."
After a few early hiccups in the opening set it yielded to Adamson, the league leaders responded with three close calls in the succeeding frames -- none closer than their 26-24 third-set escape before finishing the Lady Falcons off in four.
UST ace spikers Reg Jurado and Jonna Perdido fired 12 points apiece on top of a perfect six-of-six attacks converted by rookie Bianca Plaza and 19 excellent sets orchestrated by Cassie Carballo.
Meanwhile, the Tigresses played spoiler to Adamson rookie Barbie Jamili's best UAAP outing to date with a team-best 20 attack points as the San Marcelino side's last-gasp Final Four bid was further dented, dropping to 2-7.
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