University of Santo Tomas breezed past Mapua University, 25-18, 25-17, 25-20, for a second straight win in Pool B of the 2024 Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Pre-season Championship Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
Other than a little challenge to close out the third set, the Golden Tigresses had a cakewalk to stay unbeaten and keep hold on the second spot behind pool leader University of the East (3-0).
Kyla Cordora led UST’s balanced scoring in the 83-minute clash with nine points, all from kills including the match-clinching hammer to halt the Lady Cardinals’ late rally.
“Nag-enjoy lang kami sa game. Naglaro kami na relax nu’ng first set, we just played our game and dinahan-dahan lang namin,” Cordora said.
Xyza Gula chipped in with eight points and Margaret Altea had seven. Jona Perdido and Regina Jurado added six each in the Tigresses’ strong follow-up to a 4-set decision over Lyceum of the Philippines University last Saturday in their debut outing in the tournament backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, GCash, Chery Tiggo, F2 Logistics, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner, R and B Milk Tea and Summit Water.
Bianca Plaza pushed UST at match point, 24-17, on a quick attack but Mapua refused to go down without a fight as it answered with three straight points before Cordora closed it out.
UST will try to make it three in a row on Friday against University of Perpetual Help System Dalta at 6 p.m. before the much-anticipated showdown against UAAP rival UE on October 13.
The Lady Cardinals, led by Alyanna Ong’s eight points, remained winless in three starts.
Meanwhile, University of the Philippines rallied from a set down to ground Letran, 17-25, 25-18, 25-18, 25-23, Saturday for its first win in Pool C of the competition which has Smart Sports, PLDT Fibr, Mikasa, Asics, Rebel Sports, Eurotel, Victory Liner, Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), SM Tickets as technical partners.
Middle blocker Kassandra Doering hosted a block party accounting for seven of the 16 kill blocks scored by the Fighting Maroons in a mighty rebound from a sorry opening game loss last week at the hands of De La Salle University to tie the Lady Knights with identical 1-1 cards.
Doering punched in 16 points including nine off attacks, Joan Monares added 11 markers while Nina Ytang had 10 for UP, which survived despite a shaky reception that allowed the Letran to score 10 aces.
Gia Maquilang paced the Lady Knights with 18 points while Sheena Saring and Judiel Nitura had 14 and 12, respectively, in a losing effort.
Also facing off on Friday are the defending champion National University and Emilio Aguinaldo College at 1 p.m. in Pool A while La Salle battles Letran at 3:30 p.m.
SSL games are aired live and on-demand via Puso Pilipinas, SMART Livestream, Solar Sports Channel 70 on Sky Cable and Channel 59 on Cable Link.
Games Friday (Rizal Memorial Coliseum)
1 p.m. — EAC vs NU
3:30 p.m. — La Salle vs Letran
6 p.m. — Perpetual vs UST
