University of Santo Tomas alumni beat TNT Singapore 3-0 to win volleyball invitational

Story by Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports. Photos by Lai Jun Wei and Chua Yueda/Red Sports

Toa Payoh Sports Hall, Wednesday, June 2, 2010 – The University of Santo Tomas (UST) alumni team beat TNT Singapore 3-0 (26-24, 25-19, 25-17) at the final of the Volleyball Association of Singapore’s Volleyball Invitational Championships.

TNT Singapore, which is made up of former players of the national team, gave UST a hard fight in the early half of the game. However, boasting several top flight players from the Shakey’s V-League, an intercollegiate women’s volleyball league in the Philippines, UST quickly overcame TNT to clinch the championship.

With players like volleyball ace Mary Jean Balse (two-time V-League conference MVP, Best Server award, Best Receiver award), Cherry Rose Macatangay (one time conference MVP, three-time Best Scorer award), Roxanne Pimentel (two-time Best Attacker award) and Rubie de Leon (Best Server), UST made sure that they kept their unbeaten record intact, winning the championship without dropping a single set.

Roxanne Pimentel (UST #10) took the first point of the match with a drop shot from the centre. TNT’s centre spiker Neo Shu Mei (#5) responded soon after with a spike from the centre. A series of close rallies ensued, with UST leading by one point at the first technical time out. UST continued to hold a slender lead over TNT, leading by two points by the second technical time out.

However, UST quickly asserted their authority, pulling ahead to lead 19-14. TNT put up a hard fight to catch up, with their efforts paying off after they drew level at 20-20 via a spike from Suthasini d/o Mogun (TNT #3) to the line.

Despite the teams being neck-and-neck, UST managed to take set point after forcing a touch-out from TNT. Cherry Rose Macatangay (UST #11) unfortunately spiked into the net for the set to enter a deuce. Marietta Carolino (UST #4) gave the team an advantage after managing to block a spike by TNT. UST then took the set after their drop shot saw TNT unable to return.

UST started the second set on a good note. They managed to lead 8-4 by the first technical time out after good play caught TNT off guard. However, TNT were not contented to play second fiddle, and closed the gap via several accurate serves from Shu Mei (TNT #5). They leveled the score at 13-13, before turning the tables on UST after good blocking by Suthasini (TNT #3).

However, UST quickly leveled the scores once again, and went ahead to lead 16-14 at the second technical time out. Despite TNT leveling the scores once more at 16-16, UST surged ahead to take set point after forcing a touch out from the TNT blocker.

Rubie de Leon (UST #1) then took the final point for the team after she fired off a powerful serve, which saw Ong Wei Chen (TNT #14) deflecting it out when she attempted to receive with a set.

UST were on fire, and stormed to an early lead. By the second technical time out, UST had amassed a nine-point lead, with TNT unable to provide any substantial counter attack. Two timeouts at the 19-11 and 22-13 mark proved no reprise for TNT, as they saw their opponents take match point after Zoe Seet’s (TNT #6) spike was blocked. UST then sealed the match after Zoe’s (TNT #6) spike from the outside found the net.

Final Score
UST 3 TNT Singapore 0
26-24, 25-19, 25-17

University of Santo Tomas Alumni
De Leon Rubie (#1), Co Yu Kang Karen (#2), Carolino Marietta (#4), Balsa Mary Jean (#5), Aleta Monique (#6), Torrijos Joanna Marie (#7), Ponce de Leon Vilet (#8, Libero), Co Yu Kang Kate (#9), Pimentel Roxanne (#10, Captain), Cherry Rose Macatangay (#11), Tabaquero Angeli (#12), Carolino Michelle (#15)

TNT Singapore
Suthasini d/o Mogun (#3), Goh Pei Feng (#4, Libero), Neo Shu Mei (#5), Seet Ching Yah Zoe (#6), Lin Wei Rong (#7), Tan Shiang Theng (#8), Jeanne Gwee Xiaoqi (#9), Teo Li Yin (#10), Liew Su Min (#13), Ong Wei Chen (#14, Captain), Ong Hwee Ping Rachel (#15)

For more photos, go to next page