The UST Golden Tigresses fended off the Letran Lady Knights, 25-15, 25-23, 25-27, 25-19, to complete their sweep of the 2024 V-League Women’s Collegiate Challenge elimination round on Friday, Sept. 13 at the Paco Arena.
UST remained atop the standings with a perfect 6-0 record, thrusting it into the four-team semifinals alongside the UE Lady Warriors, FEU Lady Tamaraws, and the CSB Lady Blazers.
UST banked on an early 12-5 advantage in the opening set, striking first blood with a commanding 25-15 victory, capped by a running attack by Golden Tigresses rookie Marga Altea.
UST dominated the attack department, 16-12, allowing it to take a two-sets-to-none advantage, 25-23, sealed by a Angge Poyos down-the-line hit.
Letran forced a fourth canto by erasing UST’s three-point lead late into the third set with a 6-1 spurt, capped by back-to-back hits from Sheena Sarie and Verenice Colendra, 25-27.
Key plays down the stretch by Golden Tigresses’ main gunners Reg Jurado and Poyos, coupled with clutch points by rookie Bien Arasan, powered UST to seal the victory, 25-19.
Jurado led UST with 18 points built on 14 attacks and four blocks, while Poyos chipped in 17 markers and 12 excellent receptions to complete the Golden Tigresses’ sweep of the seven-team elimination field.
Colendra paced Letran in the loss with 18 points, while Gia Maquilang and Sheena Sarie contributed 11 and 10 points, respectively. The Lady Knights ended their V-League stint with a 2-4 record.
The Golden Tigresses will face the CSB Lady Blazers, the reigning NCAA and V-League champions, in the best-of-three semifinals starting at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 18, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
