UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas easily dispatched also-ran University of the East, 25-19, 25-16, 25-15, to move on the cusp of securing a fifth straight UAAP women’s volleyball Final Four stint yesterday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Ranged against a Lady Warriors side desperately trying to avoid their first winless season in 10 years, the Tigresses still went into full throttle and coach Kungfu Reyes even had the luxury of giving other players court time.

“First, siyempre yung respeto sa team ng UE nandoon naman kaya pinaghandaan talaga namin. Ang maganda rito, nabigyan namin ng exposure yung ibang players namin at nakapagdeliver naman. Hopefully, magamit nila itong game na ito para sa next games namin,” Reyes said.

UST improved to 8-4 and will formally advance to the Final Four with a La Salle win over University of the Philippines at 3 p.m. today at the Big Dome.

Angge Poyos hammered 12 points and collected five digs, while Reg Jurado added 10 points and 10 digs for the Tigresses.

Kyla Cordora, given court time by Reyes, produced 8-of-13 attacks, with seven digs and six receptions.

“Nagpapasalamat ako sa binigay na tiwala ng teammates at ng coaches ko. Yung need ko rin pagkatiwalaan ko yung sarili ko na kaya ko maglaro at patunayan sarili ko lalo,” said Cordora.

Adamson, playing nothing left but pride after UST won the first match, stalled Far Eastern University’s march to the Final Four with a 25-14, 29-27, 22-25, 20-25 victory.

The Lady Falcons were eliminated from Final Four contention for a second straight season, but the San Marcelino-based spikers still showed out with super rookie Shai Nitura producing a record-extending fifth 30-point game to log their second consecutive win and the fifth overall in 12 matches.

Nitura unloaded 37, a point shy of matching the all-time league record that herself set in Adamson’s five-set loss to University of the Philippines last March 16, on 31 kills, five blocks and an ace that went along with 13 digs and 12 receptions.

“If I would reflect sa napagdaanan ng team, I’m very happy at very thankful kasi sobrang laking tulong nito for our upcoming seasons. Grateful ako na kahit hindi kami makakapasok ng Final Four, pero yung learnings na makukuha namin, sobrang laking foundation nito for us. Very grateful pero hindi pa tapos,” Nitura said.

The Lady Tamaraws fell to 8-5 and will also wait for the outcome of the Lady Spikers-Fighting Maroons match today to determine if they will advance.

Mayang Nuique and Nigeria’s Frances Mordi scored 11 points apiece while rookie playmaker Fhei Sagaysay lobbed 15 excellent sets, trying her best to give everyone a share of offense aside from Nitura.

“I am very blessed na may mga players, especially si Shaina na binigay sa akin ng Panginoon to handle and to guide. I am very grateful, honored, and blessed to have Shaina and sa mga kasama niya also kasi wala namang Shaina kung wala naman mga kasama niya,” Lady Falcons coach JP Yude said.

Gerzel Petallo paced FEU with 18 points, 14 excellent receptions and 11 digs, while Chenie Tagaod tallied 12 points, seven receptions and seven digs.

In men’s play, UST moved within a win of securing one of the two remaining Final Four slots with a 25-20, 25-17, 25-20 dismantling of already-eliminated UE.

Final Four-bound FEU moved on the verge of securing the top ranking with a quick 25-16, 25-16, 25-22 win over also-ran Adamson.

With their third consecutive victory, the Tamaraws were not only able to solidify their hold on the No. 1 with a 12-1 record, but also moving a win away from achieving their best preliminaries slate in 14 years since ending the 2011 season with a 13-1 slate.

“Yung players kasi na 14 na nasa roster namin, hindi pwede magrelax lang na nagccheer ka lang doon sa anim sa loob, dapat maseize rin nila yung moment na makuha nila yung chance na mashowcase yung sarili nila. Kaya every time na ginagamit at pinapasok sila, dapat all out yung bigay nila sa match,” said FEU coach Eddieson Orcullo.

Winning a fourth consecutive match, the Golden Spikers hiked their record to 8-4, further solidifying their hold on solo third.

Alongside La Salle, UST — an 18-time UAAP men’s volleyball champion — can complete the Final Four picture with an Ateneo loss to defending champion NU tomorrow.

Reigning MVP Josh Ybañez powered the Golden Spikers with 15 points on 15-of-34 kills with nine receptions and six digs, while Popoy Colinares had four blocks and two service aces to finish with 12 points.

“I think yung preparation namin ngayon over our win streak, it’s geared to our specific opponent na. Nung first round kasi, puro kami internal preparations lang. Pero this time, we try to match up.

May mga lapses, pero thankful na napa-follow naman yung game plan,” said UST coach Odjie Mamon.

Saavedra led the Tamaraws with 13 points on 10-of-21 kills, while rookie Amet Bituin shined in his second consecutive start with 13 points, including three blocks, and seven receptions.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Theodore P. Jurado