MANILA – University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses clinched its with a 23-25, 25-19, 25-19, 25-16 win over National University Lady Bulldogs in Dumaguete City.
Filipina-Italian Milena Alessandrini, Cherry Rondina and rookie Ejiya Laure anchored the Golden Tigresses from start to finish to repeat as champions in this annual sporting event.
After losing the opening set, the Golden Tigresses surged to a 14-9 start in the second set on hits by Alessandrini.
The Lady Bulldogs kept it close at 16-18 but errors from them allowed the Golden Tigresses to tie the set count.
Both teams went toe to toe early in the third set with the score tied at 19-all but combination hits from Alessandrini and Laure and errors from the Lady Bulldogs side handed the Golden Tigresses a 2-1 set lead.
The Golden Tigresses went for the kill in the fourth with an 11-3 start behind Rondina and Laure. The Lady Bulldogs rallied to within seven but Laure, Rondina and Alessandrini converted successive points to end the contest.
University of the Philippines Lady Maroons, meanwhile, salvaged a third place finish in the tournament after wiping out UAAP champions De La Salle University Lady Spikers’ 25-17, 29-31, 25-21, 29-27.
In the men’s volleyball, University of Santo Tomas Tiger Spikers also retained its championship with a thrilling finals victory over the College of St. Benilde Blazers./PN
