ROOKIE Angeline Poyos continued her stellar play as University of Santo Tomas extended its perfect run to five matches with a 25-19, 25-16, 25-19 dismantling of Ateneo in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament yesterday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Tigresses continue to enjoy their finest start since opening the 2010-11 season with Poyos dropping 11 of her career-high 26 points in the first set.

“Grateful kasi nanalo kami at lahat nagtrabaho, lahat nag contribute, and well-distributed yung bola kaya nakuha namin yung panalo,” said Poyos, who surpassed her previous high of 24 points against University of the East.

Later, Congo’s Faida Bakanke had 13-of-23 spikes for a 14-point outing and collected eight digs as Far Eastern University beat Adamson, 25-13, 25-22, 25-17, to arrest a two-match losing skid.

Chenie Tagaod hammered 12 kills while Gerzel Petallo also scored 12 points that went along with 10 digs and 10 receptions for the Lady Tamaraws, who moved up to 3-3 in solo fourth.

The Lady Falcons fell to fifth place with a 2-3 card.

Assistant coach Lerma Giron, who filled in the post-match presser for head mentor Kungfu Reyes, who immediately rushed to the Filoil EcoOil Centre to handle PVL club Chery Tiggo, was satisfied the way UST took control of the one-hour 35-minute contest.

“Simple lang po yung instruction ni Coach Kungfu. Kung ano lang yung ginagawa namin sa training na high intensity, dapat pagdating din sa tunay na labanan, ganoon din yung ikikilos, wala silang babaguhin,” said Giron.

“Except sa dulong part ng third set, iyon ang ginawa ng mga bata,” she added.

Backing up Poyos, who logged match-best three service aces and two blocks was Regina Jurado, who came through with 12 points and 10 digs for the Tigresses.

The Blue Eagles, who were led by Lyann de Guzman’s 11-point, five-dig and five-reception outing, stumbled to their fourth loss in five matches.

In men’s play, FEU regained control of the top spot in after tripping Adamson University in straight sets, 25-23, 25-20, 25-19, for a 5-1 card.

Dryx Saavedra led the way for the Tamaraws’ bounce back win with 13 points on 9-of-20 attacks and three blocks while Martin Bugaoan chipped in 11 points on 10-of-19 kills.

Ateneo brushed off a flat start to hack out a 15-25, 32-30, 20-25, 25-20, 17-15 victory over UST, pinning last season’s runner-up a third straight defeat.

FEU coach Eddieson Orcullo was satisfied the way his team responded from last Wednesday’s five-set loss to four-peat seeking NU.

“Yung nangyari sa amin last time breaks of the game. Yung paghahanda namin sa Adamson, hindi kasi puwedeng titigil sa nangyari doon sa NU eh,” said Orcullo.

“Kung meron kaming 24 hours pag nanalo kami para makarecover ulit kami back sa ensayo, ganon din sa pagkatalo. Kapag natalo kami, meron lang din kaming 24 hours para marecover yung sarili namin,” he added.

The Blue Eagles, meanwhile, rose to 3-2 in solo fourth.

“Everyone’s ecstatic that we were able to pull a win today. Sobrang happy kami kasi everyone followed our game plan that’s why we were able to win,” said Ateneo coach Timmy Sto. Tomas.

Jian Salarzon had 22 points, including the match winner, and 28 receptions, Ken Batas had 18 points and 12 digs while Jetlee Gopio and Amil Pacinio each had 17 points for the Blue Eagles.

Reigning MVP Josh Ybañez went 29-of-60 attacks for a 31-point showing and collected 13 digs but it all went for naught for the Golden Spikers, whose third straight five-set defeat dropped them in a tie with the Falcons at 2-3.