University of Sto. Tomas rode the momentum of its opening day conquest to cruise past San Sebastian College, 25-16, 25-21, 25-18, on Saturday in the Shakeys’ Super League Collegiate Pre-season Championship at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
The Tigresses easily dismantled the Lady Stags for their second straight win in as many games to take the solo lead in Pool B.
Mary Joe Coronado delivered 12 points while Regina Jurado scored eight of her 10 markers on attacks for UST, which survived a grueling five-set showdown over Adamson University last week.
“Our win against Adamson last time was a huge morale boost for the team,” said UST coach Kungfu Reyes. “I just told them to execute our game plan which they did and we got the result we wanted.”
Smelling blood after taking the first two sets, UST built a 15-10 lead in the third frame before widening it to a 23-15 gap off a Jurado ace.
SSC-R answered with three straight points to trim it down to 23-18 but the Tigresses were quick to quell the Lady Stags’ rally to seal the victory.
The Tigresses were sloppy in second set after a dominating opening frame as they allowed the Lady Stags to keep pace until late in the set.
UST saw an opening to shatter an 18-18 deadlock and mounted a 6-2 run to create a 24-20 separation. SSC-R saved a set point before Jurado scored off a kill block to finish the set.
Jonn Perdido and Elisha Apostol combined for 18 points for the Tigresses, who opted to use ace hitter Eya Laure sparingly. Laure had two points playing jut in the second set.
Alexia Sison led the Lady Stags with 12 points while Bianca Ordona added nine.
Meanwhile, action resumes today with University of the Philippines making its debut in Pool A against University of Perpetual Help at 10:00 a.m.
SSC-R and Adamson University seek to barge in the win column in their 12:30 p.m. battle in Pool B followed by the 3:00 p.m. Pool A encounter between Mapua University and San Beda University.
Jose Rizal University and Arellano University will cross paths in the Pool C pairing scheduled at 5:30 p.m.
In the second game, University of Perpetual Help swept University of the East, 25-22, 27-25, 25-16, to take the solo lead in Pool A.
Fueled by an amazing comeback in the second set, the Lady Altas grabbed their second straight win in as many games.
Perpetual saved four set points after trailing, 20-24, in the second set. Janine Padua put the Lady Altas at set point advantage, 25-24 before Janine Lana tied it at 25.
UE’s Lia Pelaga committed a service error in the next play as Razel Aldea sealed the win for Perpetual with an ace.
The Lady Altas built an 18-9 cushion in the third set that took the fight out of the Lady Warriors.
“I’m very proud of my team. They showed how strong their hearts are for not giving up even if we were down big,” said Perpetual coach Sandy Rieta, whose squad will return to action Sunday to face debuting University of the Philippines.
Shaila Omipon led the Lady Altas with 13 points while Rhose Dapol and Aldea added 10 markers each.
UE, which lost starter Dara Nieva to a left ankle sprain after landing on a Perpetual player’s foot early in the first set and played without Von Dimaculangan due to a knee injury, slipped to a 1-1 card.
Vanessa Bangayan paced the Lady Warriors with nine points.