ROOKIE Regina Jurado continue to sparkle as University of Santo Tomas pinned Ateneo its fourth straight defeat with a 25-19, 25-23, 25-14 win in the UAAP women’ volleyball tournament yesterday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.

Jurado came through with 12-of-23 attacks and fired all of her three service aces in the third set where the Tigresses dominated the Blue Eagles.

It was a revenge game of sorts for UST, which was ousted by Ateneo in last year’s stepladder semifinals. The Blue Eagles eventually finished third, dislodging the Tigresses in the podium.

“Grateful po kasi lagi sinasabi ni ate Eya (Laure) sa amin na in a way parang bawian din from last season na sila po ang nanlaglag. Grateful po na kasali po ako ngayon sa win today against Ateneo,” said Jurado.

Eya Laure added 10 points, including a powerful backrow attack that gave UST a 2-0 lead in the tightly contested second set, 12 digs and six receptions, while Imee Hernandez had two blocks for a nine-point effort.

“Naka-execute kami, medyo malinis-linis yung galaw namin. I think wala kaming service error today napakasarap sa pakiramdam na lalabas kami na wala masyadong unforced errors,” said coach Kungfu Reyes after the Tigresses moved up to 4-2 in solo fourth.

Earlier, Far Eastern University went through the wringer before beating University of the East, 25-19, 18-25, 25-12, 22-25, 15-5, to earn its third win in six matches and keep within distance of UST.

The loss was the Blue Eagles’ fourth straight – and fifth loss in six contests – the worst start by the Katipunan-based squad in the Final Four.

Vanie Gandler led Ateneo with 13 points and seven receptions, Faith Nisperos hammered 11 kills while Lyann de Guzman also tallied 11 points, including two blocks, and five digs.

Chenie Tagaod logged a career-high 23 points, including three blocks and two service aces, while Jov Fernandez was also huge for the Lady Tamaraws with five blocks for a 22-point effort and 13 digs.

“Sobrang happy na first round pa lang, to be honest, na-exceed yung expectation. Since nandito na kami, hindi kami puwedeng huminto.” said first-year FEU coach Tina Salak. “So puwede pa naming i-achieve more yung…I mean higher expectations, siyempre, achievable naman dapat. Para tuloy-tuloy yung team. Tuloy-tuloy ang journey namin ngayong Season 95.”

Setter Tin Ubaldo also delivered with 21 excellent sets and fired a match-best three service aces while Lady Tamaraws libero Marga Encarnacion collected 35 digs.

In the men’s division, Mark Calado had 23 points, including three blocks, as FEU primed up to its much-anticipated duel with titleholder NU this weekend with a 25-21, 25-23, 23-25, 25-20 tripping of UE for its fourth straight win.

“Ang maganda nag-deliver pa rin yung boys kahit na tight yung schedule nila kasi midterms week. Galing pa rin ng boys,” said coach Rei Diaz after the Tamaraws improved to 5-1 overall.
JM Andaya had five blocks for a 20-point outing for the Red Warriors, who extended their losing streak to three matches and fell to 2-4.