By Jean Malanum

SURE POINT. University of Santo Tomas’ Kyla Cordora tips the ball in off University of the Philippines’ Bienne Bansil (left) and Kianne Olango in the Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Pre-Season Championship at Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila on Sunday (Oct. 27, 2024). The Tigresses won, 25-14, 25-19, 25-21, for a 2-1 slate. (SSL photo)

MANILA – University of Santo Tomas pulled off a 25-14, 25-19, 25-21 win over University of the Philippines Sunday to finish the second round with a 2-1 slate in the 2024 Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Pre-Season Championship at Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila.

Wing spikers Angeline Poyos and Kyla Cordora, opposite hitter Regina Grace Jurado, and middle blocker Athena Abbu joined hands in the third set as the Growling Tigresses wrapped up the Pool F match after one hour and 35 minutes.

Poyos led UST with 10 attacks and one ace followed by Cordora, also with 10 points.

UST will wait for the final standings of Far Eastern University and University of the Philippines at the end of the round-robin first phase of the playoffs to determine the two qualifiers to the crossover quarterfinals.

A tiebreaker will decide the rankings in case of a three-way tie at 2-1.

“I’m so happy to win because our loss yesterday felt heavy. Our mindset is just play our game and have fun on the court,” Cordora said after UST bounced back from its 21-25, 23-25, 23-25 loss to FEU on Saturday.

Jurado chipped in eight attacks while Abbu had seven points, including two blocks.

Kassandra Doering scored 11 points on eight attacks, two blocks and one ace for the Fighting Maroons, who slid to 1-1.

UP managed to take a 21-20 lead in the third set after Niña Ytang scored on a spike, but Poyos sparked a 5-0 run to seal UST’s win.

UP and FEU clash on Wednesday at the close of the second round. (PNA)