THE University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Tigresses and Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws, two teams in the hunt for a Final Four spot in UAAP Season 79 women’s volleyball, go battle in a key matchup tomorrow that has playoff implications.
Currently at fourth and sixth place, respectively, UST (6-4) and FEU (5-5) are eyeing a win in their 4 p.m. encounter at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
A victory by the Golden Tigresses will pull them abreast of the National University Lady Bulldogs (7-4) at the third spot while a win by the Lady Tamaraws have them forging a three-way tie for fourth place with UST and the University of the Philippines Lady Maroons at 6-5.
UST won in its last game against the still-winless Adamson Lady Falcons (0-11) in four sets, 25-12, 25-18, 22-25 and 25-19.
The Tigresses rode on the efforts of Sisi Rondina, especially in the win-clinching fourth set, to chalk up the victory that allowed them to surpass their five-win showing last year in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).
Rondina paced UST with 18 hits, EJ Laure had 14 points and 25 digs while Pam Lastimosa and Ria Meneses each finished with 11.
“This season, if you want to win you have to work hard for it. It’s simple as that,” said UST coach Kungfu Reyes after their most recent win.
REBOUND
FEU, for its part, absorbed a tough lost in their previous game against the league-leading Ateneo Lady Eagles (9-2) and is looking to rebound and set their playoff push back on track.
Fought their way back from two sets down, the Lady Tamaraws failed to complete the comeback against Ateneo, bowing in five sets, 25-20, 25-22, 17-25, 21-25 and 15-8.
The defeat left the Morayta-based volleybelles ruing the lost opportunity to pad their cause but nonetheless they vowed to bounce back and learn from their mistakes.
FEU leading scorer Bernadeth Pons had four blocks to finish with 19 points and had 12 excellent receptions in their loss to Ateneo while Chin-Chin Basas added 14 hits and nine digs.
Meanwhile, in the first game at 2 p.m., the defending champions De La Salle Spikers (8-2) look to secure a semifinal spot against also-rans University of the East Lady Warriors (1-9).
The Lady Spikers have won three straight games and are in a position to tie Ateneo for the top spot.