Defending men’s and women’s champions University of Santo Tomas pulled off contrasting victories to start the hostilities of the UAAP Season 73 Volleyball tournament on a bright note
By: Geoff Latayan
University of Santo Tomas were serious to defend both men’s and women’s volleyball titles as they both trounced Ateneo in contrasting fashion at the start of the UAAP Season 73 Volleyball tournament Saturday, Nov. 27 at the Flying V Arena in San Juan.
The Tigresses started their defense of the women’s title with a come from behind five set thriller over the Lady Eagles, 25-13, 18-25, 19-25, 26-24 and 15-13.
Tigresses team captain Aiza Maizo was at her deadly form as she was dominating at all sides of the taraflex-laden floor of the Flying V Arena whacking a game-best 32 points on 29 attacks and 3 blocks, including the game winning spike that denied ADMU of tying the match at 14 apiece.
The Tigresses of coach Shaq de los Santos started strong as they wreaked havoc in the first set with smashing spikes and great defense, coupled with Ateneo’s tons of unforced errors, giving them a 25-13 headway.
However, the Lady Eagles of coach Roger Gorayeb caught fire in the second and third sets as they played it smart as they avoided the longer reaches of the taller Tigresses to win both sets.
The fourth set was a tough grind as both teams exchanged spikes and saves until Maizo’s attack scored UST’s second set and an automatic fifth set tiebreak.
UST started with a 4-0 run on heady plays from Maizo and setter Rhea Dimaculangan but ADMU’s Cara Acevedo, Fille Cainglet and Jorella de Jesus sparked the Lady Eagles to take a 9-8 lead.
Maruja Banaticla’s spike and Dimaculangan’s block helped regain UST the lead, 10-9 but Ateneo was able to regain it at 12-11 as the UST committed a violation.
But the defending champions were able to bounce back as they capitalized on Ateneo’s reception miscues giving them three straight points and the match point highlighted by Judy Ann Caballejo’s spike.
Ateneo’s de Jesus would get a point back for her spike but it was the last for the Lady Eagles as Maizo was set up for the final point of the match.
In the men’s side, the Tigers continued their dominance in the men’s class with a straight set conquest of the Blue Eagles, 25-20, 25-16 and 25-17.
It was the deadly quartet of Jayson Ramos, John Paul Torres, Henry Pecaña, and Harby Ilano teaming up to dismantle the Blue Eagles.
Ramos, Torres and Pecaña all had 11 points while Ilano had nine to lead the Tigers’ charge.
The Tigers were visibly dominating from the get go as they crushed the Blue Eagles with their uncatchable spikes. The Tigers connected on 44 spikes as compared to the Blue Eagles, who can only muster 20 spike points.
In other games, the DLSU Green Spikers cruised to a straight set win over the National University Bulldogs, 25-12, 25-20 and 25-15.
Comebacking Mark Emilio Lee was a great help for team captain Chris Macasaet as he led the Green Spikers with 13 points, on 10 spikes and 3 service aces.
Macasaet, who led last year in scoring, and sophomore John Kevin dela Vega took a backseat for the returning Lee but they were still in their dominating self as they combined for 20 points apiece.
In the first women’s match, Mervic Mangui scored 19 points to lead National U to a four set win over the rookie-laden Far Eastern University, 21-25, 25-18, 25-22 and 25-21.
Mangui scored on 17 attacks and two blocks to help National U bounce back from a one set deficit over the rebuilding Lady Tamaraws, which lost the likes of Cherry May Vivas, Shaira Gonzales, Wenneth Eulalio, Monique Tiangco, Mary Rose Cabanag and April Jose this year.
Sunday’s quadruple header will begin with the men’s action of the University of the East and Adamson at 9:00 am while University of the Philippines and Far Eastern University will collide at 11:00 am.
The afternoon matches will see women’s teams slug it out for their first win as UP faces UE at 2:00 pm and last year’s runner-up La Salle faces Adamson at 4:00 pm.
