University of Santo Tomas avoided an early exit after a hard-earned, 25-17, 25-18, 28-30, 25-14 win over debuting Team Soccsksargen in Pool B of the 2024 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) National Invitationals on Thursday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Composed mostly of rookies looking to gain experience, the Tigresses used a huge run in the fourth frame to take the fight out of their Mindanao-based rivals after yielding the extended third set and avoid a repeat of their opening-day defeat at the hands of University of Batangas.
The UAAP Season 86 runner-up banked on Marga Altea’s 17-point effort to finish the group stage of the tournament backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, Eurotel, Victory Liner and Mikasa with a 1-1 win-loss record for a chance to advance to the knockout quarterfinals.
UST saved four set points in the tight third frame and even took a 28-27 set point advantage only to throw away the opportunity to finish the game in straight sets when Team Soccsksargen countered with a 3-0 closing rally capped by the Tigresses’ costly back-to-back miscues.
UST won't be denied
But UST won’t be denied in the fourth set when it unleashed a 12-3 barrage to shatter a 9-9 deadlock for a commanding 21-12 lead punctuated by an ace courtesy of Abigail Sinson.
Altea, who played through a jumper’s knee injury, collected 11 kills, five kill blocks and an ace; Sinson added 13 points while Kaizah Huyno had four aces to finish with 11 markers for the Tigresses, who bounced back from a 16-25, 26-28, 25-17, 25-17, 16-18, loss Wednesday.
Team Soccsksargen, a selection squad from Southern Mindanao, got 16 points from Janelle Maignos while Tresha Parong and Shendy Acebo scored seven and six markers, respectively.
Meanwhile, University of Southern Philippines Foundation pulled off a massive upset after beating Lyceum of the Philippines University, 25-19, 17-25, 25-23, 25-19, in Pool C.
Games in the SSL National Invitationals, organized by Athletic Events and Sports Management, Inc., are available via livestream on Smart Livestream and Puso Pilipinas and Solar Sports (cable).
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