CEBUANA middle blocker Thea Allison Gagate stepped up when it mattered the most as she scored two straight points late in the game to help the National University (NU) Junior Lady Bullpups defeat the University of Sto. Tomas (UST) Junior Lady Tigresses, 25–22, 25–23, 15–25, 25–20, in the deciding Game 3 of their finals series in the UAAP girls’ volleyball tournament yesterday at the Adamson University (AdU) gym.
With the win, NU closed out the series at 2-1 en route to winning a third successive crown in the tournament.
The 16-year-old Gagate, who was named the league’s best middle blocker, scored on a spike and in the fourth to put the Junior Lady Bullpups up, 22–19. An ace and a block by league MVP Faith Nisperos and an error by the Junior Tigresses clinched NU the victory.
It was indeed a sweet revenge for the Junior Lady Bullpups, who lost Game 2, 25–16, 25–21, 21–25, 25–13. NU won the opening game, 25–16, 25–21, 21–25, 25–13.