MANILA, Philippines — The National University Lady Bulldogs are now just a win away from recapturing the UAAP women’s volleyball championship after sweeping the hobbled University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses, 25-23, 25-20, 25-20, in Game 1 of the Season 86 finals Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Playing without their leading scorer Angeline Poyos for the majority of the second set and the entire third set due to an ankle injury, UST was simply overpowered by the Bulldogs.
Alyssa Solomon led NU with 17 points off of 14 attacks and three blocks. Bella Belen backstopped with 13.
With UST trying to mount a comeback, cutting a once-five point deficit to just two, 17-19, the Lady Bulldogs punched in back-to-back points to keep their distance, 21-17.
The Tigresses though tried to claw their way out thanks to back-to-back errors by the Sampaloc-based squad, 19-21.
But NU would not be denied.
The Lady Bulldogs ended the match with a 4-1 run capped by a Vange Alin sug off-the-block attack for the win.
With the second set being kept in an 11-all deadlock, UST saw its fortunes turn for the worse after P oyos sprained her right ankle as she landed on teammate Em Banagua’s foot.
Since then, NU continued their run as they took a 15-11 lead.
The Tigresses tried to get themselves out of the hole, cutting the lead to two, 17-19, but an Alinsug point sandwiched by errors by UST gave the Lady Bulldogs a big 22-17 lead.
Despite the effort s of UST, NU maintained a five-point advantage.
Alinsug and Sheena Toring poured in 12 and 10 markers, respectively.
Jonna Perdido led the Tigresses with 17 points. Regina Jurado added 10, while Poyos scored seven before being helped off the taraflex.
NU, which won the title two seasons ago, now has a shot to regain glory on Wednesday, 4 p.m., at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
MANILA, Philippines — The Terrafirma Dyip stunned the defending champions San Miguel Beermen to keep their season alive, 106-95, in PBA Philippine Cup action Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila.
Terrafirma won its first playoff game in history, and it came against the powerhouse.
Juami Tiongson erupted for 29 points, six rebounds and three assists. He shot 11-of-20 from the field. Stephen Holt added 25 markers, eight boards, four dimes and two steals.
With the Beermen trying to mount a comeback late in the game with free throws by June Mar Fajardo and CJ Perez, 91-99, Juami Tiongson took over.
The former Ateneo guard danced with Terrence Romeo on the other end, and after a couple of crossover dribbles, he launched a stepback triple to push the lead to 11, 102-91, with 2:32 remaining.
After a miss by Perez in the next possession, Tiongson sank a layup to give them a comfortable 13 point lead, 104-91.
Perez tried to tow the Beermen back with four straight points, but a pair of free throws by the Dyip playmaker iced the game.
Terrafirma started to pull away in the third quarter, after a layup by Perez cut their deficit to three, 71-74, at the 2:20 mark of the frame.
In the next minutes, though, Stephen Holt, Tiongson and Javi Gomez de Liano teamed up as they unleashed an 8-2 run to go up by nine, 82-73, heading to the final canto.
Isaac Go backstopped Terrafirma with a career-high 22 points.
June Mar Fajardo led the Beermen with 21 points, 16 rebounds, three assists and three steals. Perez added 20 off the bench.
According to PBA chief statistician Fidel Mangonon III, San Miguel is the first defending champion, and twice-to-beat No. 1 seed, to be extended to a do-or-die in the playoffs.
The sudden death match will be held next week.