Tigresses wax hot sans Pano, sink Lady Tams

Defending champion University of Santo Tomas bucked the absence of Joyce Pano as it waylaid Far Eastern University, 25-19, 25-14, 25-12, yesterday to get back on track in the 2005 Shakey’s V-League first conference at the Rizal Coliseum.

Roxanne Pimentel came out of a slump by pumping in 18 hits she highlighted with 12 kills and two blocks while Mary Jean Balse fired 15 points that more than made up for the absence of Pano, who was out for the second straight game to mourn the loss of a family member.

"The team really missed Joyce (Pano) but it’s a nice thing that we still pulled this one," said UST coach August Sta. Maria, referring to the power-hitting utility spiker, who was a key figure in the Espana-based team’s title romp in last year’s edition of this event sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza.

The victory somehow erased the stigma of their shocking loss to the Ateneo Lady Eagles, 25-21, 22-25, 17-25, 25-18, 11-15, Saturday. The defending champions also dropped their first game to the San Sebastian Lady Stags, who rallied from a set down to sweep the next three.

San Sebastian kept the momentum of its back-to-back wins over UST and FEU and survived a tough Lyceum side, 25-16, 28-26, 25-20, to regain a share of the lead with idle La Salle with 3-0 slates.

Lyceum fell to 0-4.

For a while, the Tigresses appeared sluggish, perhaps reeling from their previous loss and groping for form in the absence of Pano. But they recovered their bearing late in the opening set then went on to finish off their rivals for their second win in four games in this tournament backed by Accel, Mikasa, Jemah Television and IBC 13.

Pimentel, surprisingly playing below par in the first three games, alternated with Balse, last conference’s MVP, in the next two sets to complete the rout that lasted just a little more than an hour.

Venus Bernal added eight hits while Joan Botor-Carpio, who helped the team win three UAAP volley titles in the 90s, chipped in six while dishing out 24 excellent sets for Balse and Pimentel.

"We just hope we will be able to sustain this form so even in the absence of one or two players, we can be as competitive as the others," added Sta. Maria.

Top FEU hitter Ruby May Rivera was held to just eight points, no thanks to UST’s almost impenetrable defense that compounded to the Lady Tams’ woes. Mary Ann Manalo also had eight hits in a losing cause that saw the Morayta-based spikers absorb their third straight defeat.