UST holds off Ateneo to boost UAAP semis bid
Published Apr 15, 2023 11:25 am
Eya Laure and Imee Hernandez took turns in steering University of Santo Tomas past Ateneo, 25-22, 25-20, 27-29, 25-21, to strengthen its Final Four campaign in UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City Saturday, April 15.
Laure delivered another sterling performance with a team-high 27 points while Hernandez exploded for a career-high 24 points on 19 attacks, three blocks and two aces as the Golden Tigresses climbed to an 8-3 win-loss record. The victory, which cemented UST’s hold of the second spot along with Adamson, further boosted its bid for a potential twice-to-beat cushion in the Final Four race The Golden Tigresses brushed off the Blue Eagles’ third-set fightback, which saw 18 deadlocks, before keeping their momentum en route to the win. The España-based spikers actually trailing by two at some point in the fourth frame, but managed to regain their steam to tie the game at 20-all. Laure took matters into her own hands and hammered down three straight points before Milena Alessandrini aced her serve to put UST at matchpoint. Ultimately, it came down to Hernandez’s defensive might that shut down Faith Nisperos’ last-ditch effort to seal the win. Nisperos had a career-high 31 points in a losing cause for Ateneo, which absorbed its sixth defeat against four victories to put its Final Four bid in peril.
*University of Santo Tomas' Imee Hernandez goes for the kill against two Ateneo defenders. (UAAP Images)
*Laure delivered another sterling performance with a team-high 27 points while Hernandez exploded for a career-high 24 points on 19 attacks, three blocks and two aces as the Golden Tigresses climbed to an 8-3 win-loss record. The victory, which cemented UST’s hold of the second spot along with Adamson, further boosted its bid for a potential twice-to-beat cushion in the Final Four race The Golden Tigresses brushed off the Blue Eagles’ third-set fightback, which saw 18 deadlocks, before keeping their momentum en route to the win. The España-based spikers actually trailing by two at some point in the fourth frame, but managed to regain their steam to tie the game at 20-all. Laure took matters into her own hands and hammered down three straight points before Milena Alessandrini aced her serve to put UST at matchpoint. Ultimately, it came down to Hernandez’s defensive might that shut down Faith Nisperos’ last-ditch effort to seal the win. Nisperos had a career-high 31 points in a losing cause for Ateneo, which absorbed its sixth defeat against four victories to put its Final Four bid in peril.