UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas found the reset it desperately needed.
The Golden Tigresses revived their UAAP Season 88 campaign with a 16-25, 25-13, 25-19, 25-20 turnaround win over the University of the Philippines on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
UST’s 2-3 start had already mirrored one of its worst openings in the modern era back in Season 80 eight years ago.
That year, the Golden Tigresses slipped further to 2-4 after a loss to, coincidentally, UP.
This time, history did not repeat itself as UST roared back after dropping the first set and grabbed the next three to even its slate at 3-3.
“Ginising namin sila. Na-miss nila ‘yang mga konting bulyaw at pag-shakeup sa kanila,” said UST assistant coach Yani Fernandez.
“‘Yung bawi talaga mahalaga kasi itong game na ‘to, ito ‘yung [magde-determine] ng kapalaran namin sa first round [dahil] tatlo kaming 3-3, kaya ayun, buhay pa.”
Even without the injured Casiey Dongallo nursing a left knee issue, UP came out firing with a four-point burst to open the match. That early surge ballooned to an 11-point cushion as UST looked flat-footed, committing 10 unforced errors in the opening set alone.
But the tide turned quickly in the second frame as the Golden Tigresses flipped the switch and dominated from start to finish, with Angge Poyos spearheading the charge in a commanding 12-point set win to level the match.
UST carried that momentum into the third set, dictating the pace for most of the frame with a six-point cushion at 20-14.
UP rookie Bienne Bansil, who helped seal the opener, briefly kept the Fighting Maroons alive by saving a set point. Jonna Perdido, however, slammed the door shut with the finishing blow that pushed the Golden Tigresses ahead two sets to one.
The fourth set turned into a slugfest as both teams traded blows before UST finally created separation.
Angge Poyos ignited a decisive 7-2 run that flipped a 12-14 deficit into a 19-16 Golden Tigresses lead, shifting momentum firmly in España’s favor.
UP refused to go quietly, though, as Jelai Gajero tried to spark a last-ditch rally with back-to-back hits. But rookies Julia Balingit and Avril Bron delivered timely plays down the stretch to keep the Fighting Maroons at bay.
State U even saved one match point after a service error by UST rookie Lianne Penuliar. The reprieve was short-lived, however, as UP setter Jaz Manguilimotan committed a service error of her own on the next play to seal the Tigresses’ four-set win.
Poyos led the way with a dominant 24-point outing on an impressive 67 percent attacking efficiency. She was backed by 16 markers from Reg Jurado and a strong 12-point, five-reception performance from the returning Jonna Perdido.
Balingit and Bron added seven combined points to help close the match out.
Nina Ytang still finished with 14 points but could not prevent the Fighting Maroons from absorbing back-to-back defeats and their second loss in the last three games.
Gajero chipped in 12 points, while Fina Ali and Bienne Bansil added six apiece. Irah Jaboneta contributed seven points, 11 receptions and five digs in the losing effort.
With the result, the race for fourth place tightened even further, as Adamson, UST, and UP now share identical records, with the Lady Falcons holding the edge in match points over the Golden Tigresses and the Fighting Maroons.
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