Playing without their head coach, the UST Golden Tigresses barged into the Final Four of the UAAP Season 84 women’s volleyball tournament after dominating the UE Lady Warriors in a sweep, 26-24, 25-18, 25-19, at the Mall of Asia Arena on Tuesday.
With their second-straight win, the Tigresses improved to a 9-4 win-loss record, enough to clinch them the third Final Four spot.
The undefeated National University Lady Bulldogs (12-0) and the streaking De La Salle Lady Archers (9-4) secured the first two spots
The Tigresses were down a point, 17-18, in the third salvo, when they unleashed an 8-1 run to complete the sweep.
The Tigresses started the second set with a 5-1 lead, but the Lady Warriors mounted an 8-4 run to tie the game at 9-all.
The set continued with several lead changes, and when the Tigresses held an 18-17 lead, they went on a 7-1 blitz to close the second set, 25-18.
UE was at set point, 24-23, when UST’s Imee Hernandez scored a quick attack and Lady Warrior Janeca Lana committed two unforced errors to give UST the first set, 26-24.
UST head coach Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes missed today’s game due to personal reasons.
Tigress captain Eya Laure, who was averaging 24.5 points per game before today, scored 12 points with 12 excellent receptions.
Tapia led UST in scoring with 13. KC Galdones also scattered 11 markers for the Tigresses.
The duo of Lana and Ercae Nieva scored nine and eight points respectively for the Lady Warriors.
The Tigresses will face the unbeaten NU Lady Bulldogs to end the elimination round on Thursday, 4 p.m., at the same venue.
Should NU sweep the elimination round, the Final Four will be held in a stepladder format.
The stepladder format has the undefeated team automatically qualifying for the finals, while the No. 3 and No. 4 seeded teams will clash in a one-off elimination, of which the winner will battle the twice-to-beat No. 2 seed for a finals spot.
