UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas sent Ateneo crashing in straight sets, 25-20, 25-23, 25-21, in UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Angge Poyos showed the way for the Golden Tigresses with 19 points, five receptions, and four digs.
The reigning runners-up have now won their last five matches since yielding defeat to Far Eastern University on opening weekend. At 5-1, they tightened their grip of second place.
Pia Abbu was a force on the net for UST with a game-high five blocks to cap her 12-point outing.
As one of España's veteran mainstays in a rookie-laden team, Abbu made it a point to lead by example in any way she can on and off the court.
"(Kailangan maging) senior pa rin po na kahit sa labas ng court, ma-lead ko yung teammates ko, or even inside," said Abbu.
"Yun lang po talaga yung mindset na makatulong sa kahit anong department, sa serve, sa block, kung saan man kami nagkukulang ngayon."
Their five-game unbeaten run matches that of Season 86 finals tormentor National U, who happens to be the the Golden Tigresses' next and last opponent of the first round on Mar. 16 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Finding a big fight
For the second time this season, the Blue Eagles dropped back-to-back matches to stay in seventh-place - barely ahead of winless University of the East.
Newly-converted winger AC Miner paced the loss for the Ateneo with 13 points on 11 attacks, one block, and one ace.
Piling onto the blue-and-white's woes this season was yet another injury scare in Sobe Buena who was stretchered off the court at 15-21 late in the opening set after getting hit by the ball on the head and taking an awkward fall.
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