ON the day the Year of the Tiger officially started, University of Santo Tomas made sure that they will be the lone unbeaten team in 2010.The Tigresses foiled defending champion La Salle’s plans in completing a rare 14-game sweep by hammering out a nerve-wracking 23-25, 25-20, 26-28, 25-16, 15-12, in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament in an exciting Valentine’s Day before a jampacked Sunday crowd at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
Angeli Tabaquero had 19 points while Aiza Maizo added 18 hits, including her game-winning drop shot, for UST.
By extending their winning run to nine games, the Tigresses capped the elims with a 12-2 card, while the Lady Archers settled for a 13-1 card entering the ‘Final Four’ which will start on Saturday.
By extending their winning run to nine games, the Tigresses capped the elims with a 12-2 card, while the Lady Archers settled for a 13-1 card entering the ‘Final Four’ which will start on Saturday.
Armed with ‘twice-to-beat’ incentives, La Salle and UST must beat Adamson and Ateneo, respectively, once in the semifinals to make it to the best-of-three finals.
The Lady Archers last tied the count at 11-11 after Charleen Cruz scored a kill before setter Rhea Dimaculangan blocked Stephanie Mercado’s attack for the Tigresses to take a 12-11 advantage.
Dimaculangan took advantage of La Salle’s weak reception by unloading two consecutive service aces which gave UST a 14-11 spread.
“Rhea (Dimaculangan) is very talented, magugulat ka na lang bigla lalo na sa mga big games. Breaks lang talaga ang nagpanalo sa amin, yung mga service niya ang nagdala sa panalo ng team,” said Tigresses coach Shaq delos Santos.
“Maganda ang game nila (Lady Archers), kaya lang hindi na sila maka-receive sa fifth set. It’s overwhelming, plan talaga namin na matalo sila,” he added.
UST has a 3-0 record in all the Valentine’s Day games they played since 2006-07 season.
Mercado finished with 19 points while Jacq Alarca chipped in 14 hits for La Salle.
In the first game, National University averted a winless season by scoring a 25-22, 25-19, 27-25 triumph over University of the East.
Mervic Mangui fired 22 hits while rookie Maricar Nepomuceno added 10 points for Lady Bulldogs, who snapped a 13-game losing skid and tie the Lady Warriors at 1-13.
“Hindi ako na-frustrate despite all the losses. Nagbunga naman ang lahat ng paghihirap ng mga bata sa ensayo dahil nag-improve sila sa opensa and defense from last season,” said NU rookie coach Dante Alinsunurin.
Mary Cristel Rosale scored 11 markers while Dawn Dizon and Ellaine Roces chipped in nine points apiece for UE.
In the men’s division, Duane Teves and AJ Pareja unloaded 16 hits each as the Blue Eagles copped the third semifinals berth by outlasting the Green Archers, 26-24, 20-25, 25-23, 25-18, for a 8-6 card.
La Salle fell to 7-7 to tie University of the Philippines in fourth place. The Green Archers and the Fighting Maroons will battle in a ‘do or die’ playoff for the last semis berth on Wednesday.
Jayson Ramos had 15 points as UST took the top seed in the ‘Final Four’ by scoring a 25-21, 25-20, 25-13 triumph over Far Eastern University, for a 13-1 mark. (TJ)
The Lady Archers last tied the count at 11-11 after Charleen Cruz scored a kill before setter Rhea Dimaculangan blocked Stephanie Mercado’s attack for the Tigresses to take a 12-11 advantage.
Dimaculangan took advantage of La Salle’s weak reception by unloading two consecutive service aces which gave UST a 14-11 spread.
“Rhea (Dimaculangan) is very talented, magugulat ka na lang bigla lalo na sa mga big games. Breaks lang talaga ang nagpanalo sa amin, yung mga service niya ang nagdala sa panalo ng team,” said Tigresses coach Shaq delos Santos.
“Maganda ang game nila (Lady Archers), kaya lang hindi na sila maka-receive sa fifth set. It’s overwhelming, plan talaga namin na matalo sila,” he added.
UST has a 3-0 record in all the Valentine’s Day games they played since 2006-07 season.
Mercado finished with 19 points while Jacq Alarca chipped in 14 hits for La Salle.
In the first game, National University averted a winless season by scoring a 25-22, 25-19, 27-25 triumph over University of the East.
Mervic Mangui fired 22 hits while rookie Maricar Nepomuceno added 10 points for Lady Bulldogs, who snapped a 13-game losing skid and tie the Lady Warriors at 1-13.
“Hindi ako na-frustrate despite all the losses. Nagbunga naman ang lahat ng paghihirap ng mga bata sa ensayo dahil nag-improve sila sa opensa and defense from last season,” said NU rookie coach Dante Alinsunurin.
Mary Cristel Rosale scored 11 markers while Dawn Dizon and Ellaine Roces chipped in nine points apiece for UE.
In the men’s division, Duane Teves and AJ Pareja unloaded 16 hits each as the Blue Eagles copped the third semifinals berth by outlasting the Green Archers, 26-24, 20-25, 25-23, 25-18, for a 8-6 card.
La Salle fell to 7-7 to tie University of the Philippines in fourth place. The Green Archers and the Fighting Maroons will battle in a ‘do or die’ playoff for the last semis berth on Wednesday.
Jayson Ramos had 15 points as UST took the top seed in the ‘Final Four’ by scoring a 25-21, 25-20, 25-13 triumph over Far Eastern University, for a 13-1 mark. (TJ)
