Following a thrilling five-set battle between the two in their Round One matchup last February, the DLSU Lady Spikers had their nine-game win streak broken in their second meeting versus the UST Golden Tigresses in four sets, 19-25, 25-14, 18-25, 12-15, earlier today, April 2, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
In the losing effort, rookie Angel Canino scored 13 points and eight excellent receptions. Team captain Mars Alba contributed 17 excellent sets and two service aces of her own for the Green and White.
From the other side of the court, team captain Eya Laure dominated the front line, tallying 29 points for UST. Milena Alessandrini complemented Laure’s performance, scoring 20 points along with three blocks and nine excellent receptions.
Early Struggles
As two of the hottest teams in the tournament, both squads kept it tidy coming out of the gates, but Laure found a hole behind the Lady Spiker’s defense to draw first blood, 1-0. Trying to take control of the game, a Dela Cruz ace and two powerful hits from Jyne Soreño opened DLSU’s scoring, 4-2. Alba facilitated the Green and White’s offense through Fifi Sharma’s strong quick attacking, but balanced hitting from the Golden Tigresses kept the game locked at 7-all. Sharma got her groove early and took control of the game, giving her team the lead going into the first technical timeout, 8-7.
Both teams traded blows keeping the set a close affair, but Alessandrini’s strong attacking, paired with several costly errors from DLSU, placed the game at another deadlock, 12-all. Bullying the Lady Spiker’s defense, Laure took control off the match as she gave her squad a 20-15 lead. Running away with the match, the España-based squad turned to Imee Hernandez’s blend of offense and defense to push the match further, 23-18. Dela Cruz tried to breathe life back to DLSU, but Alessandrini’s finishing blow gave UST the first set, 25-19.
Momentum shift
After struggling to keep up with the Golden Tigresses’ attacks, DLSU immediately fell behind by two points to start the second set, 2-0. However, Thea Gagate lit the fuse for a fiery Lady Spikers comeback. After a quick point and a block from the middle blocker going alongside a UST error and a Dela Cruz point, Gagate stood tall, blocking an attack all by herself, 5-2. This momentum shift would lead the España-based team to call their first timeout of the set, eventually falling behind by as much as nine points by the second technical timeout, 16-7.
In the final moments of the second set, the Golden Tigresses showed signs of life, but the Lady Spikers’ defense gave them no room to catch up. Canino’s single block and Gagate’s service ace would prove to be enough to seal the deal for La Salle, capping off a dominant set that showcased DLSU’s resilience, 25-14. And, after failing to tally a block in the first set, the Green and White registered a total of six points off rejections, living up to their famed “Taft Towers” motto.
Coming for the top
Looking to avenge their second set loss, UST started the third set on fire, as hits by Alessandrini and Laure succeeded by two consecutive service aces by Regina Jurado gave them an early 5-1 lead. Soreño and Alessandrini traded blows exiting the DLSU timeout to keep the lead at UST’s side, 6-2. Not to be outdone, the Lady Spikers launched a 5-0 run of their own as Angel Canino came alive using a variety of attacking tricks to give her squad the lead, 7-6.
Coming out of the first technical timeout of the third set, Laure used her hard hitting to give her squad a 9-8 lead. The Taft-based squad regained the lead off two consecutive Alba aces, 12-11. The España-based squad stuck to their gameplan as strong attacking from the trio of Allessandrini, Hernandez and Laure placed them in firm control, 20-16. Dominating the La Salle frontline all afternoon, Laure had her way with the Green and White earning another point to allow her side to inch towards set point, 23-18. Rounding off the set win, Jurado punched the finisher through the La Salle defense, 25-18.
Meltdown
The fourth set was much the same as the third, as the Lady Spikers saw themselves failing to defend UST’s barrage of points from all over the frontline. La Salle was also unable to match the excellent digs made by the Golden Tigresses, who easily recovered in the backline after every attack by DLSU. This defensive showcase was what fueled the trio of Laure, Alessandrini, and Jurado to do damage on the Green and White. To add salt to the wound, the Taft-based team never led in the entire set, eventually falling by a huge margin, 12-25.
This loss marks the Lady Spikers’ first of Season 85 after dominating the first round, which included an impressive nine-game win streak entering today’s battle with UST. DLSU looks to bounce back in their second round matchup against the UP Fighting Maroons at 2 pm on Sunday, April 16, at the PhilSports Arena.
The Scores:
DLSU 1 – Canino 13, Gagate 9, Sharma 8, Soreño 8, Dela Cruz 8, Alba 4, Provido 1
UST 3 – Laure 29, Alessandrini 20, Jurado 12, Hernandez 7, Torres 3
Set Scores: 19-25, 25-14, 18-25, 12-25
One reply on “UAAP: Lady spikers fall prey to Golden Tigresses, 3-1, see UAAP 85 undefeated run snap”
Good day! I don’t believe that they lost. They were not in their best shape and it was a lesson to rely on good luck sometimes, which can be easily attracted with a correct mindset. It was not yet the Finals so that they should not take it very seriously. If they would incur no losses in Round 2, then the step ladder format might not be advantageous for the Lady Spikers in the end. Having multiple shifts in strategies that may not be too predictable is the ultimate key to our success. They need to make quick decisions at the spur or the moment, more especially, when they are very near the net. It was a matter of luck, of course. Nonetheless, luck is always on the side of those who strongly believe they can win despite significant or necessary setbacks. God bless!