PEOPLE CLAD in yellow shirts dominated the arena, as the UST Tigresses handed the Lady Spikers a heart-breaking quarterfinal loss in five sets, on May 13 at the FilOil Flying-V Arena.
The Lady Spikers found themselves in an offensive and defensive funk, as the Tigresses handed them a 25-10 beating in the first set, with UST guest player Mary Jean Balse and captain Aiza Maizo headlining the attack.
The second set, however, told an entirely different story. With the Lady Spikers acquiring the much-needed energy to match intensities with the Tigresses, Sontaya Keawbundit, the Lady Spikers’ Thai import, made two straight points in the first two possessions. UST played catch-up for the rest of the set that ended 25-23.
In the third set, Keawbundit’s stellar play enabled the Lady Spikers to lead throughout the set. The Tigresses made explosive runs late in the set, with Maizo and other guest player Michelle Carolino leading the charge. But it wasn’t enough as Lady Spiker Charo Soriano neutralized the UST attack through her patent running spike, helping Ateneo maintain their 21-17 lead. A kill by Keawbundit ended the set in an explosive note, 25-18, giving Ateneo a two games to one lead.
As both teams fought tooth-for-tooth, the fourth set proved to be the most electrifying. The Spikers garnered an early lead, leading as much as three points, until UST incoming sophomore Maruja Banaticla scored on different plays tying the set 9-9. This was followed by un-returnable spike by Ange Tabaquero which put the Tigresses up 10-9.
UST’s superb play continued with Maizo and Banaticlas scoring kills en route to a 18-15 lead. Uncharacteristic errors allowed the Lady Spikers to redeem themselves putting them behind the Tigresses by a single point, 21-20. This prompted UST coach de los Santos, to call a time out. Fortunately, the break proved effective as UST made a 2-0 run, which Soriano again countered with a powerful running spike.
Midway through the fourth set, play stopped as Soriano was seen to be clutching her knee after a bad fall, and was helped out of the game.
Although Ateneo took the lead after Soriano’s departure, UST’s relentless offense caused headaches as both squads played catch up with each other. After four lead changes, the Tigresses took the fourth, 29-27.
After a gruelling fourth set, the Lady Spikers, tired and depleted, gifted the Tigresses with an easy fifth set. With the game tied at three apiece, errors and defensive miscommunication hounded the Spikers as UST went up 8-3.
Clinching a semi-final berth, UST did not trail afterwards as they went on to win the set at 15-6.
SETS: 25-10, 23-25, 18-25, 29-27, 15-6
