Lady Spikers escape Tigresses

De La Salle University survived University of Santo Tomas in a battle of nerves to walk away with a thrilling, 25-20, 16-25, 25-8, 15-25, 16-14, victory in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 85 women's volleyball tournament on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Rookie Angel Canino proved to be as good as advertised, coming away with an 18-point debut as she flaunted her scoring prowess with 16 attacks, an ace, and a kill block she laced with 11 excellent receptions to lead the Lady Spikers.

Interim head coach Noel Orcullo heaved a sigh of relief as the breaks of the game went their way in the intense fifth set – the first of the season – after the Tigresses committed back-to-back errors following Leila Cruz's miscue that tied the decider at 14.

"The game was really intense. It was really the breaks of the game, so it could've gone either way. So, I guess we got lucky the breaks came our way," Orcullo, who is temporarily sitting in for decorated mentor Ramil de Jesus, said.

In the first game, Far Eastern University welcomed the coaching debut of Tina Salak with a hard-earned, 25-16, 23-25, 25-17, 26-24, win over University of the Philippines.

With the legendary setter calling the shots and cheering on the sidelines, the Lady Tamaraws rallied in the tight race to the finish in the fourth set to open their redemption campaign on the right track.

"It's a good start, definitely a good start for the team, the program and also for the community," Salak, who has come full circle from leading FEU to two UAAP titles in the mid-90s and winning league Most Valuable Player to mentor, said.

The victory also gave the Lady Tamaraws a breather after ending Season 84 at the last spot in a punishing 11-game losing skid.

"And even if we struggled during our training and also in their past experiences, we have proven that we can overcome it," Salak said.

"So, a good problem for us is that we have to improve more."

Jovelyn Fernandez hammered 17 kills to highlight her 18-point explosion while Chenie Tagaod and Alyzza Devosora, who scored two of the last three points of FEU, finished with 13 and 12 markers, respectively.

Devosora, who had 12 digs and four excellent receptions, saved a set point on a down the line hit to force a deuce at 24 before putting the Lady Tamaraws at match point with another kill.

UP threw its chance of extending the frame after Stephanie Bustrillo overcooked her attack for the team's last of 31 errors.

The Lady Spikers looked poised to end the match in four sets after dominating the third frame. However, UST behind Eya Laure and returning Milena Alessandrini, who made a comeback after four years since suffering a shoulder injury in Season 81 in 2019, rallied in the fourth frame to force the decider.

Jolina dela Cruz scored 14 points, Cruz got 12 while Thea Gagate and Fifi Sharma combined for 12 markers for La Salle, which survived the game despite throwing 35 points off miscues.

Tied at 14, the Lady Spikers got their break when Alessandrini sent her pressure-packed service long followed by Laure putting too much power to her spike that went out.

Laure got 19 points while Alessandrini had 10 markers in a losing effort for UST, which gave away 32 points off errors.