THE UST Golden Tigresses secured a spot in the UAAP Season 87 Final Four after sweeping the UP Fighting Maroons, 25-20, 25-21, 25-18, in their penultimate Round 2 game at the Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday, April 23.
UST improved to a 9-4 record while eliminating UP from Final Four contention, as the Fighting Maroons dropped to 6-7.
This marks the Tigresses’ fifth straight semifinal appearance dating back to 2019. After the game, UST head coach Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes said the team consistently keeps the championship in focus.
“Every year, minsan nag-iiba na ‘yong players namin, kasi come and go itong mga ito, pero ‘yong sistema nandiyan,” he said. “We just keep pushing, at hindi kami tumitigil to reach that ultimate goal ng team. ‘Yon naman talaga ‘yong main goal namin, pero ang importante sa amin ay we do better every game.”
UST led 16-8 midway through the opening set until the Fighting Maroons mounted an 8-1 run, capped by a Kianne Olango kill to close the gap to 17-16.
However, the Tigresses regained control after a UP error and an Angge Poyos crosscourt hit, 19-16, before sealing the set with a Reg Jurado kill, 25-20.
After trailing early in the second set, UST tied the score at 14-all with another Jurado kill. The teams traded points, knotting the set at 20-all, until a Poyos off-the-block kill ignited a 5-1 spurt. A Banagua block sealed the second set for a 2-0 advantage, 25-21.
The Tigresses sustained their momentum in the third, building a lead of as much as nine points, 20-11. The Tigresses closed out the match with a Poyos kill to punch their return ticket to the Final Four, 25-18.
“Medyo malaking pressure sa amin (after ng) silver last season. No’ng Holy Week, talagang mindset namin na, ‘Hindi kami puwedeng manalo basta-basta’ — kasi nga, eto na ‘yong magde-determine ng Final Four.”
Poyos paced the Golden Tigresses with 19 points, while Banagua had 12 points and eight blocks. Jurado had 12 markers.
Niña Ytang was the only Fighting Maroon to score in double digits with 16.
The UST Golden Tigresses will conclude the elimination round against the top-seeded NU Lady Bulldogs at the Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, April 27 at 5 p.m.###
