UAAP: Marga Altea makes most of her minutes for UST

UST Golden Tigresses’ Marga Altea during a game against Ateneo Blue Eagles in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament. –UAAP PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—On the tail-end of its quest for a Final Four spot in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament, the UST Golden Tigresses found an unsung hero to get them closer to the finish line.

UST swept Ateneo,, 25-15, 26-24, 26-24, on Saturday to bolster its positioning in the race for a playoff spot, thanks in big part to the efforts of Marga Altea.

SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 87 volleyball tournament second round

Altea, a rookie out of España, relieved some load off of star spikers Angge Poyos and Regina Jurado as the season’s Final Four race reached a fever pitch.

“I’m just happy because I’ve been working on my game during training and my efforts just showed itself in this game,” said Altea.

“There are times when I don’t know what I’ll enter as so when in training, I participate in all the drills so when I get into the game, I’d be prepared and I won’t be surprised.”

Altea finished with 10 points with a team-best three blocks on the defensive end to power UST to a 7-4 record.

READ: Marga Altea hopes to make her own mark wearing UST No.8

The efforts of the former UST high school standout backstopped Poyos and Jurado, who scored 16 and 10 points, respectively, in the win.

Coach KungFu Reyes was one of the guys who were pleasantly surprised with the 6-foot talent’s showing.

“Whether it’s on both sides of the wing, left or right, outside or opposite, Marga can play it,” said a proud Reyes.

“She isn’t new to the idea of being a middle. That only takes a few adjustments for her,” he added.

UST hopes to build up even more momentum next week on Saturday when the Golden Tigresses face the University of the East at the same venue.