The UST Golden Tigresses yielded to the NU Lady Bulldogs in straight sets, 23-25, 20-25, 20-25 on Saturday, May 11, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum

Jonna Perdido led with 17 points off 15 attacks, one block, and one service ace to carry UST after losing star spiker Angeline Poyos to an ankle injury.

“Walang ibang alibi, talagang stiff lang nilaro ng mga bata habang smooth naman ‘yong kabilang side,” UST head coach Kung Fu Reyes said.

Down by as much as six points in the first frame, UST tied the game at 17 all after an off-the-block hit from Poyos.

The Golden Tigresses dropped the first set following two consecutive attacks from NU’s Vange Alinsug, 23-25.

In the second salvo, UST held a four point advantage before Alyssa Solomon's attack pulled NU to a tie at 11.

Midway through the set, Poyos injured her ankle after landing on Em Banagua’s foot.

Towering over the error-plagued tigresses, NU tallied two kill blocks to pull away in the set, 20-25.

Despite losing their main gunner, the Golden Tigresses were still neck and neck against the Lady Bulldogs in the third frame, before UST's game plummeted after the Tigresses committed two consecutive errors from Carballo and Jurado, 12-15.

“Ang kailangan lang namin gawin is bounce back. Nandito na kami, talagang win or go home na kami sa Wednesday," Reyes said.

Solomon’s 17 points off 14 attacks and three blocks, alongside Michaela Belen’s 13 points and Alinsug’s 12 brought the Lady Bulldogs to victory

The Golden Tigresses and Lady Bulldogs will see each other again in a do-or-die Game 2 on Wednesday, May 15, at the Mall of Asia Arena.