UST seeks end to 4-game slide

By Anthony Divinagracia Posted Jan 18th 2014

University of Santo Tomas (UST) is not used to prowling in the basement.

Well, almost.

Stuck at sixth place, the Tigresses are in real danger of falling on uncharted territory if they fail to arrest their misfortunes halfway into the season.

And it starts by claiming a morale-boosting victory today over perennial cellar-dweller University of the East (UE) in the second round of the 76^th UAAP women’s volleyball tournament at the San Juan Arena.

The slumping Tigresses (2-5) battle the winless Lady Warriors (0-7) at 2 p.m. with UST hoping to arrest a four-game slide and keep its Final Four chances alive.

Last Wednesday, the Tigresses absorbed their fourth straight loss via a heart-breaking 25-15, 15-25, 22-25, 22-25 meltdown to Far Eastern University (FEU).

Not even the consistent showing of Pam Lastimosa, who led UST in a losing cause with 18 points, could help the Tigresses overcome their endgame woes against FEU’s steadier offense and defense.

Against the Lady Tamaraws, the Tigresses gave up 36 hits and a telling 12-5 lead on blocks. UST also yielded 36 error points.

UE on the other hand seeks to end its miserable run and barge into the win column, following a 12-25, 18-25, 20-25 bashing from defending champion De La Salle University last Sunday. The Lady Warriors have lost 24 consecutive assignments dating back to Season 74.

So lost and lackluster was UE’s game that it allowed 11 of La Salle’s 14 players to tally at least a point. Expectedly, the Lady Warriors ate dust in attacks (36-24) and blocks (6-2) while generously handing out 25 points to La Salle off turnovers. 

The game will air live on Studio 23, BALLS HD 167 and uaapsports.tv with a same day replay at 9:30 p.m. on BALLS SkyCable channel 34/ Destiny Cable channel 36.