Tigresses roll past Blue Eagles

Games on Saturday (Filoil EcoOil Center, San Juan) 9 a.m. – UE vs UST (men’s) / 11 a.m. – UE vs UST (women’s) 3 p.m. – FEU vs NU (women’s) / 5 p.m. – FEU vs NU (men’s) Santo Tomas shoved free-falling Ateneo down to its worst start in more than a decade with an emphatic 25-19, 25-23, 25-14 win in the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament yesterday at the Filoil EcoOil Center in San Juan.

Regina Jurado put up 15 points on 12 attacks and three aces as the Golden Tigresses racked up their second straight win to keep their hold of the No. 4 spot with a 4-2 record.

Captain Eya Laure was everywhere with 10 points, 12 digs and six receptions with Imee Hernandez adding nine laced by two blocks for Santo Tomas, which dragged rival and Season 81 finals tormentor Ateneo to a woeful 1-5 slate.

“Naka-execute kami, medyo malinis-linis yung galaw namin. Napakasarap sa pakiramdam na wala kaming masyadong unforced errors,” said UST coach Kungfu Reyes as his wards committed only 11 errors with zero on the service department.

The last time the Lady Eagles had such a shaky start was in 2010 at 1-4.

Yesterday, they absorbed their fourth straight loss despite the efforts of Vanie Gandler (13), Faith Nisperos (11) and Lyann de Guzman (11).

In the first match, Far Eastern U hacked out a feisty 25-19, 18-25, 25-12, 22-25, 15-5 triumph over winless University of the East.

Chenie Tagaod (23) and Jovelyn Fernandez (22) teamed up as the Lady Tamaraws improved to 3-3 at No. 5 behind leaders La Salle (5-0), Adamson (4-1), National U (4-1) and Santo Tomas.

“Sobrang happy na first round pa lang, na-exceed na ‘yung expectation. Since nandito na kami, hindi kami pwedeng huminto,” said coach Tina Salak.

KC Cepada (18), Vanessa Bangayan (17) and Ja Lana (14) paced the Lady Warriors, who remained at the cellar with no wins to show in six matches.

In the men’s play, FEU (5-1) drubbed UE (2-4), 25-21, 23-25, 25-23, 25-20, behind Mark Calado’s 23 points on 19 attacks and three blocks.