Tigresses seek 6th straight win vs Maroons
THE undefeated UST Golden Tigresses aim for their sixth straight win at the UP Fighting Maroons’ expense in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday, March 13.
Armed with skyrocketing confidence after a 5-0 start, the Golden Tigresses battle the struggling and still winless Fighting Maroons (05) at 2 p.m.
The UST-UP collision serves as the first game of a doubleheader that ends with the contest between the Ateneo Blue Eagles (1-4) and the Adamson Lady Falcons (2-3) at 4 p.m.
With rookie Angge Poyos swinging her way to a career-best 26 points, UST mauled Ateneo, 2519, 25-16, 25-19, on March 9 to go 5-0.
Not even the tear the Golden Tigresses are having would make them complacent, they hope, especially against a Fighting Maroons team eager to barge into the winning column.
“We need to stay consistent and focused, and we should not relax and be complacent because the tournament is far from over, and I know we still have a lot to show,” said Poyos.
As they put themselves in a position to sweep the 7-game first round, Regina Jurado, who aided Poyos last timeout with 12 markers, acknowledged the fact that Golden Tigresses have bigger targets on their back now.
“We should not relax because we’re just in the first round, and for sure, come the second, teams are going to make adjustments, and the battles will be harder for us.”
Poyos, Jurado and Jonna Perdido have been providing the firepower for the Growling Tigers, who even defeated last year’s finalists NU Lady Bulldogs and defending champs De La Salle Lady Spikers in their winning run.
Cassie Carballo has been distributing the ball well and reigning best libero Detdet Pepito, showcasing impeccable floor defense for the Kungfu Reyesmentored team raring to add UP to its victims this season.
Struggling is an understatement for coach Oliver Almadro and the Fighting Maroons this season as they try to find answers and finally break the losing spell they’re currently in.
UP suffered its fifth straight defeat in as many games following a 15-25, 17-25, 18-25 decimation from La Salle on Sunday, March 10.