By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Negrense Kimberly Rubin connected two timely service aces as the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Junior Golden Tigresses outlasted the Adamson University Lady Baby Falcons, 24-26, 19-25, 25-19, 25-19, 15-13, in the UAAP Season 87 girls volleyball tournament at Paco Arena in Manila on Wednesday, September 18.

With both teams knotted at 13 apiece in the fifth set, Rubin showed nerves of steel as she converted two service aces to secure the come-from-behind victory for the Junior Golden Tigresses.

Rubin, a native of Negros Occidental’s La Carlota City, finished with six points, including three service aces, to go with eight excellent receptions as the Junior Golden Tigresses improved to a 2-0 win-loss slate.

Aneeza Santos top-scored for the Junior Golden Tigresses with 13 points, including nine kills, two aces and two blocks, to go with seven excellent sets, while Avril Bron and Lianne Penuliar added 12 and 11 points, respectively.

“Ang ganda ng grit ng team nila [Adamson], kita mo ‘yung talagang ‘into the zone’ ‘yung mga player nila regardless kung sino ipasok. It’s just a break of the game for us,” UST head coach Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes said.

“Sa amin naman, nag-struggle kami doon so talagang napalaking bagay [itong panalo] para sa mga bata,” added Reyes, who also noted that his squad have a lot of work to do after committing 53 errors.

Team captain Abby Segui tallied 20 points, including 16 attacks, three service aces and a block, for the defending champion Lady Baby Falcons, which lost for the first time since UAAP Season 85.

Meanwhile, the Far Eastern University Lady Baby Tamaraws also notched their second win in as many games by overwhelming the University of the Philippines Integrated School Junior Fighting Maroons, 25-15, 25-18, 25-16./ASC, WDJ