UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas seized the early lead in the Shakey’s V-League Season 13 Reinforced Conference with an all-Filipino crew, holding off Coast Guard in the third set for a 25-16, 25-10, 25-23 victory at the Philsports Arena in Pasig yesterday.
Skipper Pam Lastimosa came back from a 10-month long layoff due to injury to fire seven points while EJ Laure turned in a match-best 12 hits after unleashing a 19-point effort in leading the Tigresses to a shock 25-15, 20-25, 25-13, 25-21 victory over Open Conference runner-up the Air Force Jet Spikers in last Saturday’s opening of the season-ending conference of the league sponsored by Shakey’s.
“I missed playing so I went all-out on my return. But I’m still around 70 percent as far as my form is concerned,” said Lastimosa, who went back to training just a couple of months ago after being sidelined by an ACL injury late last year.
Coast Guard fought back from four points down midway in the third and forced a tie at 22 on an off-the-block hit. But the Tigresses regained their bearing and took three of the last four points with Laure finishing off the Dolphins with a power hit that ripped through their rivals’ net defense.
“They turned erratic towards the end of the third, allowing Coast Guard to come back,” said UST coach Kungfu Reyes, stressing the need for his wards to toughen up on defense and polish their reception.
“We have to improve on our first ball and polish our defense, especially blocking,” said Reyes, whose team is one of the four without reinforcements in the league backed by Mikasa as official ball and Accel as official outfitter.
Meanwhile, titleholder Cignal TV held off Instituto Estetico Manila, 25-23, 25-20, 26-24, to join opening day winner Air Force in the early lead in the Spikers’ Turf Season 2 Reinforced Conference.
Games tomorrow
12:30 p.m. – Army vs 100 Plus (S Turf)
4 p.m. – Pocari vs Air Force (V-League)
6 p.m. – Customs vs Laoag (V-League)