The final day of the UAAP Season 82 Beach Volleyball Tournament, held at the Sands at SM by the Bay, saw a rematch between last year’s Season 81 Volleyball semi-finalists. Similar to Season 81’s result, La Salle bowed to UST, allowing the Golden Tigresses to achieve a four-peat in a post-Sisi Rondina era, as UST completed a sweep in two games earlier today.
An energetic foe
DLSU and UST opened their best-of-three series with a hard-fought battle; the Lady Spikers pressed the Golden Tigresses to three sets, but ultimately failed to outlast the three-time defending champions, 14-21, 22-20, 12-15. The mighty UST squad garnered their 28th straight victory—a winning streak that began way back in Season 79 in 2016.
La Salle, led by veteran Tin Tiamzon and Season 81 Juniors Finals Most Valuable Player Justine Jazareno, faced a refined Golden Tigress squad that pushed the intensity from start to finish. In the first set, the Green-and-White kept up with the defending champions until the score was tied at 9-all; however, UST went on an attacking spree with three straight well-placed hits before failing to convert with an out, 12-10.
DLSU’s reception was constantly tested by the Golden Tigresses’ attacks, which created a seven-point gap between the two sides. Meanwhile, half of the Lady Spikers’ 14 points in the first set came from attacking and service error from the Golden Tigresses.
Back-and-forth attack
Tiamzon and Jazareno figured out the offensive tandem of Barbon and Eslapor by staying aggressive on the attack in the second set. Following the playstyle often associated with La Salle volleyball, the DLSU veteran went for blocks and powerful spikes to get their points. Jazareno added to Tiamzon’s flurry of attacks with her service aces and continuous pressure, causing Eslapor and Barbon to constantly dig for the ball. La Salle was able to create their biggest lead of the match with six points, 13-7.
However, the Green-and-White went cold as errors piled up. DLSU’s style of service, which normally goes for the kill, could not convert as both Lasallians suffered from service errors. The team from España was looking for a come-from-behind victory as they tied the game up at 14 apiece and Eslapor’s spikes continued the run to go for an 18-15 lead. Jazareno was crucial in answering back with a couple of service aces and two spikes to earn La Salle the second set, 22-20, preventing the Golden Tigresses from sweeping the match.
Valiant effort by the Lady Spikers
In the third set, DLSU drew first blood as they led 2-0, but UST were unfazed by the pressure as Eslapor took over the attack. She single-handedly created the four-point lead, 8-4, by opting to place hits near the net, which forced Tiamzon and Jazareno to gamble in their floor defense.
Jazareno’s championship DNA was on display as she was able to dig Eslapor’s spikes and sent her own. Tiamzon cut down the lead to a single point with a crucial service ace, 8-7. La Salle was able to take the upper hand as Tiamzon connected on three of her spikes, 11-9.
Nevertheless, the Golden Tigresses were undeterred as they halted the Lady Spikers’ momentum by testing the Lasallian defense with leap shots over the players and tip-ins, forcing DLSU to dive. The Green-and-White could not overcome the steady Golden Tigresses as they failed to close out the first game of the series and surrendered the third set, 15-12, and ultimately the match.
Unable to steal a set in the second game
The Lady Spikers were unable to extend the series to a do-or-die match as the Golden Tigresses defeated La Salle in two sets, 26-28, 18-21.
The first set, which ended at 26-28 in favor of the España-based squad, was the longest set of the tournament. La Salle initially had set point at 21-20, but UST found ways to keep themselves alive. DLSU had gotten to set point three more times with Jazareno and Tiamzon’s hits; however, they were unable to close out the set. Golden Tigress Barbon led the way to seal the set with two straight attacks.
The previous set drained La Salle’s energy, evidenced by giving up an early lead to UST. At the halfway mark of the second set, the Lady Spikers were left with a seven-point deficit, 14-7. The duo of Tiamzon and Jazareno tried to get themselves back into the contest with Jazareno getting into her groove on offense. At championship point for UST, Tiamzon and Jazareno failed to stage a mini run as Tigresses Barbon and Eslapor claimed the match, 21-18.
The veteran, Tiamzon, shared her thoughts on the team’s performance in the finals and the entire season. “We really did our best na para ma-push until the very end. Iyon nga lang, nakulangan ng konti pero I’m still proud of what we’ve achieved. Yung sa akin naman, I fell short, but I think I gave it my all naman, pero it could’ve been sweeter pag gold,” she expressed.
(We really did our best to push until the very end. Our effort might not have been enough, but I’m still proud of what we have achieved. Personally, I fell short, but I gave it my all.)
A bright future
Despite only coming out with a second place finish, Jazareno claimed her first seniors division individual award—Rookie of the Year—demonstrating maturity through composed and steady play against the more experienced Golden Tigresses.
She shared with The LaSallian her insights as a rookie, “Hindi naman din ako binigyan ng pressure ng coaches. Kung baga ibigay ko lang ang best ko like yung mga tini-training namin and kung ano yung input [na ibinibigay] sa akin. As a rookie, hindi naman porket rookie mababa ang tingin. Kung baga laban ng laban, ma pa rookie ka man or kahit anong year.”
(The coaches did not put any pressure on me. I just had to give my best in line with the training we did and the coaches’ input I received. Being a rookie does not mean that one is looked down upon. We just keep on fighting, whether one is a rookie or any given year level.)
Jazareno’s focus was unwavering since she was not intimidated by inexperience. As a forward-thinker, she emphasized team character for the future, citing “determination, hard work and patience sa lahat ng teammates”. Tiamzon also expressed, “I can’t wait for what [Jazareno] has to offer in the future. I’m not worried as to where our team is [going to] go.”
(Determination, hard work, and patience for all of my teammates.)
The silver lining of this beach volleyball season is that the talented Jazareno will surely add more firing power to the Lady Spikers for the upcoming volleyball tournament.
With reports from Shai Concepcion
