There will be a new UAAP women’s volleyball champion as the UST Golden Tigresses disposed of the DLSU Lady Spikers in five sets, 25-20,16-25, 25-20, 19-25, 15-7, to secure the first finals spot of Season 86 at the Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday, May 5.
The UST-DLSU rivalry experienced a déjà vu moment, as exactly five years ago, the Tigresses clinched their last finals berth by defeating the Lady Spikers in five sets.
With the Lady Spikers no longer in contention, the Tigresses are poised to break their 14-year championship dry spell, awaiting the victor of the knockout match between the NU Lady Bulldogs and FEU Lady Tamaraws. The two losses UST suffered in the elimination round were inflicted by NU and FEU.
The Tigresses came out strong, converting a comfortable 20-12 lead into a 25-20 victory in the first set.
With UST leading by two in the second set at 11-9, the Lady Spikers overwhelmed the Tigresses with a 10-0 run and preserved a wide gap to tie the game at one set apiece, 25-16.
Following an Angel Canino drop ball that leveled the score at 18-all in the third set, UST countered with a 7-2 run, pushing the Lady Spikers to the brink of elimination.
DLSU broke an 11-all tie in the fourth set and forced a decider after a 14-8 surge, sealed by a Thea Gagate quick hit, 25-19.
Locked in at 3-all tie in the deciding set, the Tigresses surged ahead against the Lady Spikers, whom they had beaten twice in the elimination round, with a 12-4 run punctuated by a service ace from former De La Salle-Zobel Junior Lady Spiker Cassie Carballo.
Despite being outblocked by DLSU with 15-10, the Tigresses relied on their 63 attacks compared to the Lady Spikers’ 53 to secure the victory.
Super rookie Angeline Poyos led the Tigresses with 28 points, while Jonna Perdido contributed 18 points along with 12 excellent receptions.
Carballo recorded six points and 18 excellent sets, while team captain Detdet Pepito continued her stellar defensive performance with 18 excellent digs and 16 excellent receptions.
Lady Spikers Shevana Laput (20 points), Gagate (16 points) and Canino (14 points) combined for 50 to lead DLSU.
