Season MVP Cherry Rondina and Ysabel Jamie Jimenez struck hard in the final set as the University of Santo Tomas made a big stand and put away the Ateneo Lady Eagles, 25-17, 25-16, 25-20, yesterday at the Araneta Coliseum.
Rondina hit nine attack points and scored four crucial ones after she and Jimenez took charge in the closing moments of the final set for the Tigresses in Game 1 of their best-of-three finals series with the Lady Eagles in the 81st University Athletic Association of the Philippines women's volleyball finals.
The Tigresses, who have beaten the Lady Eagles for the first time in seven seasons and since the second round in 2012, are now a win shy of their first crown since 2010.
UST needed 81 minutes to fend off Ateneo, taking the last four points off two attacks from Rondina, who tallied 23 points.
Rondina's timely presence came right after Ateneo rallied from six points down.
Jimenez gave possession back to the Tigresses after Ateneo rallied to within a point, 20-21.
Kat Tolentino, who made 12 points, capped Ateneo's scoring with a long placement shot that sailed above Rondina's head.
A block from Rondina from the middle then allowed UST to gain a two-point advantage, 22-20.
Then, the team skipper of the Tigresses, hit the next two points, with the first one coming after defying the blocks of Maddie Madayag, and Deanna Wong.
The Tigresses went ahead, 24-20, after a Rondina next kill went past the net unchallenged.
They nursed a big lead for the last time, 18-14 after Rondina struck twice from the left side.
It was the pair of Tolentino and Madayag who kept Ateneo close with their kills at the net, as they rallied back to within a point.
UST coach Kung Fu Reyes took note of the team's history and past rivalry with the Lady Eagles after they moved a win closer to ending a nine-year title drought.
“Maganda para sa morale ng mga bata ito. Sabi ko na sa kanila. 'Yung history ng team (on beating Ateneo), matagal na ito. Hindi ko na dinidiin sa kanila ito. Kasi, importante sa amin ay we are playing at the present. History will just repeat itself kung tatrabahuhin nila ito" he said.
Tolentino led the Lady Eagles with 12 points as her placement shot at the right side put Ateneo within range, 13-16, in the third set.
