ADVANTAGE UST.
University of Sto. Tomas asserted its season-long mastery of La Salle, 22-25, 25-23, 25-16, 25-15, to secure the No. 2 seed and a twice-to-beat bonus in front of a 14,939-strong crowd in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament on Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Jonna Perdido gave the Tigresses an all-important safety net in the Final Four with 19 points built on 18 attacks and one ace, in the process spoiling the long-awaited return of La Salle star Angel Canino from injury.
READ: Angel Canino makes long-awaited return for La Salle
Following UST’s first prelims sweep of La Salle since Season 70 in 2008, the two title contenders will duke it out again in over a week’s time in a rematch of last year’s Final Four, this time with the Tigresses enjoying a twice-to-beat advantage.
This also marks the third La Salle-UST semifinals series in the last four seasons, with the twice-to-beat Lady Spikers victorious in Season 85 and the twice-to-beat Tigresses prevailing in the Season 81 Final Four.
"Maganda 'tong pagpasok ng top four kasi malaking-malaking panalo 'yung nangyari ngayong gabi (versus La Salle). Nakuha namin 'yung ine-aim namin na hindi lang basta makapasok ng top four, which is magkaroon kami ng twice-to-beat advantage," said UST head coach Kungfu Reyes.
"Hindi naging madali 'yung mga pinagdaanan ng mga bata lalong-lalo na 'yung makaharap mo yung defending champion. Nagsisimula lang ulit kami ng another chapter kasi nga nasa Final Four na tayo pero ice-celebrate muna namin 'yung panalo then back to hardcourt ulit kami," he added.
There was no stopping UST rookie ace Angge Poyos (290 points), who trailed another rookie hotshot in University of the East's Casiey Dongallo by two points as the season's top scorer. She produced a team-high 22 points on 18 attacks, three blocks and one ace in the Tigresses' prelims finale and twice-to-beat clincher which was iced by an 18-6 game-winning run.
And in such a high-stakes match, team captain Detdet Pepito led by example and neutralized the Lady Spikers' reloaded offense with 17 digs and six receptions.
The defending champions relied on Shevana Laput's 26 markers but just fell flat even as Canino pitched in 13 points (seven in Set 1) in her first game back since Mar. 23 when the Lady Spikers swept semis-bound Far Eastern University.
La Salle's championship mettle will be put to the test in a do-or-die Final Four clash with UST on Sunday. It will be the first semis stint since Season 81, coincidentally against UST which it lost, wherein the Taft side will play as the No. 3 seed without a twice-to-beat bonus
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
