UNIVERSITY of Sto. Tomas fought back from a set down to beat a young yet gutsy University of the East side, 18-25, 25-19, 25-17, 25-22, in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
UST rookie hotshot Angge Poyos was impressive on both ends with 24 points on 19 attacks, three aces, and two blocks. This, on top of 11 excellent receptions and eight excellent digs to highlight the Tigresses’ second win in as many games.
READ: New-gen Poyos, Jurado, Perdido step up as UST searches for 'next Eya'
"'Yung game, talagang no joke. 'Di ka talaga pwedeng magpabaya. Gugulatin ka ng UE at talaga namang nakakagulat. 'Yung first set, sila nag-pace ng game. 'Yung tempo nila, hinahabol na namin hanggang sa pati kami nawawala na," said UST head coach Kungfu Reyes.
"Parehas rookie team, mas uhaw, mas excited sa ginagalaw, mas bata sila kaysa sa team namin considering na bata na nga kami, pero sila talagang rookie [team]. Gaya nga ng sinasabi nila sa players namin, same energy level na sila at halos magkakadikit lang din yung experience," he added.
In the near two-hour contest, UST's 27 unforced errors paired with a 23-point eruption from Casiey Dongallo paved the way for a nip-and-tuck affair which even saw UE run away with the opening set.
But with an unassailable force in Poyos, who had all bases covered in just her second UAAP game, the Tigresses held Dongallo & Co. at bay despite keeping themselves within striking distance across all four sets.
UST joined La Salle as the lone unbeaten teams two games into the new season with 2-0 (win-loss) cards after a fitting follow-up to its shock opening win over title favorites National University Lady Bulldogs.
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