TOP TWO. Margaret Altea of University of Santo Tomas (center) scores on a spike during the match against National University Nazareth School in the UAAP Season 86 girls’ volleyball tournament at the Adamson Gym in Ermita, Manila on Wednesday (Jan. 31, 2024). The Junior Golden Tigresses won, 23-25, 25-19, 25-21, 17-25, 15-11 to earn No. 2 spot in semifinals. (UAAP photo)
MANILA – University of Santo Tomas earned the No. 2 spot and a bye in the UAAP Season 86 girls’ volleyball step-ladder semifinal after surviving defending champion National University Nazareth School, 23-25, 25-19, 25-21, 17-25, 15-11, at the Adamson Gym in Ermita, Manila on Wednesday.
UST will wait for the result of the knockout match between NUNS and Far Eastern University-Diliman at 1 p.m. on Friday at the FilOil EcoOil Center in San Juan City.
The semifinal is also a knockout game.
Led by Margaret Altea, the Junior Golden Tigresses rallied from 4-5 down to get the upperhand at 9-5 and never looked back.
"Well, 'yung unang ano namin is 'tong opportunity na playoff. Actually, 2-3-4 tied, nagkatalo sa (sets) ratio. Sabi ko lang sa girls, another opportunity kung ilalaban din natin. Madali lang namang bitawan eh. Either way, pareho lang naman kami ni NU ng gustong mangyari (Well, the first thing we have is a playoff opportunity. Actually, 2-3-4 tied, lost in (sets) ratio. I just said to the girls, another opportunity if we fight too. It's easy to let go. Either way, we and NU just want the same thing to happen)," UST head coach Kungfu Reyes said after the match.
Altea blocked Celine Marsh to wrap up the match, showing UST's determination to get back after absorbing a 23-25, 25-21, 21-25, 25-21, 16-18 loss last Saturday.
"Isa diyan sa nagbago siguro is 'yung eagerness nila. Naramdaman nila 'yung isang panalo na lang magna-number 2 na kami eh pero nawala. Mas nasaktan sila dun kasi halos naka-uwang na sa amin (Maybe one of the things that changed is their eagerness. They felt that just one win would make us No. 2 but we lost. They were hurt more because they were almost there)," Reyes added.
After losing a tough first set, UST doubled its effort and behind the brilliant performance of Altea, the Junior Golden Tigresses successfully took the next two sets.
The Lady Bullpups regained their composure, banking on Marsh and Denesse Daylisan to take a 20-14 advantage en route to winning the fourth set and forcing the deciding fifth. (PNA)
