Tigers kick off 4-peat bid, sweep Eagles

MANILA, Philippines –  The University of Santo Tomas (UST) Tigers jumpstarted their four-peat quest with a straight-set win over the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 25-20, 25-16, 25-17, yesterday in the UAAP Season 73 volleyball tournament at the Arena.

Henry James Pecaña, Jayson Ramos and John Paul Torres punched in 11 points apiece as the Tigers served notice of their bid to extend their reign in men’s volleyball.

Season 72 Finals MVP Pecaña and Torres struck hardest on offense with nine kills each while Ramos got three service aces and two blocks to power UST to the 59-minute victory.

The Blue Eagles drew nine points from Joseph Michael de Joya, who made five of them off blocks.

Joining the Tigers in the early lead was La Salle, which shackled National U, 25-12, 25-20, 25-15, behind the 13-point production of Emilio Lee and the 10 markers each of Chris Macasaet and John Kevin dela Vega.

In the women’s division, NU fought back from a one-set deficit to beat Far Eastern U in an error-laden encounter, 21-25, 25-18, 25-22, 25-21.

Mervic Mangui chalked up 19 markers, 17 via spike, while Elaine Sagun added 10 as the Lady Bulldogs survived 37 total errors (as against FEU’s 39) to nose out FEU and hand new coach Francis Vicente his first triumph at the NU bench.

Rosemarie Vargas had 18 for FEU, followed by the comebacking Maica Morada’s 11.