The UST Golden Tigresses dropped a four-set clash to the De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Spikers on Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum, with a controversial floor touch challenge in the third set proving to be one of the pivotal moments of the match.
After the Golden Tigresses took Set 2, 25-18, they carried that momentum into the third set, building a lead of as much as eight points, 20-12.
However, the Lady Spikers erased the deficit, and as the gap narrowed to 21-20, a rally unfolded where UST outside hitter Xyza Gula placed a tip into a wide-open area on the DLSU court that was chased down by Lady Spiker Eshana Nunag.
UST head coach Shaq Delos Santos and assistant Yani Fernandez immediately signaled that the ball had touched the floor, with Delos Santos calling for a challenge as the buzzer sounded.
Eto ang nakuhaan ko!!!
Ang masasabi ko lang… Stickler for rules sila Shevana, Angel, etc.#UAAPSeason88 pic.twitter.com/mpyTqRSAfW
— Daniel B. Bautista (@bautistadanielb) March 25, 2026
The referees acknowledged the challenge and halted play, while UST middle blocker coach Rico De Guzman formally raised the floor touch challenge.
thinking abt how quick shevana came to the referee when ust pressed the challenge button mid rally bwhahaha our rulebook queen! 😆pic.twitter.com/4vFI1EZaQ7
— 𝟐𝟓 (@vctonara) March 25, 2026
First referee Ely de Jesus later awarded the point to DLSU, ruling the challenge as invalid.
Here’s why it was disallowed.
The UAAP first brought in the video challenge system for both men’s and women’s volleyball during the shortened Season 82, then brought it back in the second round of Season 85, following the rules set by the world volleyball governing body, the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB).
Under old regulations from the FIVB rulebook, teams are permitted to request a video challenge during the following circumstances:
- during play (i.e., mid-rally), whenever they believe a fault has occurred and was not called by the referees (to speed up the process, this must be done by a team member pressing the buzzer at the bench). This type of challenge may be requested at any point during the rally, even to review the first action (i.e., service); or
- at the end of the rally, if they wish to review the referees’ decision regarding the final action of the rally.
However, in 2025, the FIVB removed the mid-rally video challenge to reduce interruptions. Instead, all video challenges must now be made after the rally, regardless of when the supposed error occurred.
The UAAP, an amateur league, does not necessarily adopt every rule from the FIVB rulebook. In a post on Facebook, UP Fighting Maroons head coach Fabio Menta explained that when coaches held their Season 88 meeting in February, the rule allowing mid-rally challenges was presented, and they began discussing whether it was appropriate or necessary to stop play for such a call.
He said he was against the rule, while UST supported it. Ultimately, all coaches eventually agreed not to permit mid-rally challenges. The UAAP then decided to move the challenge process to after the rally ended, provided that the coach could specify the exact moment the possible fault occurred.
Offering further clarification, Menta emphasized that the adjustment was not an application of an FIVB rule but rather a collective preference of volleyball coaches and an agreement accepted by the UAAP.
In the UST vs. DLSU match, because the UST coaches called for a challenge in the middle of the rally, the stoppage did not qualify for a review, and the point was awarded to La Salle, allowing the Lady Spikers to tie the score at 21-all before eventually taking the third set, 25-23.
Although the challenge from the UST coaches was not allowed, photos from courtside fans circulating on X appeared to show that Gula’s tip did hit the floor. It likely would have been a successful floor touch challenge — but only if it had been called after the rally.
ito ba yun? haahahah https://t.co/OLk4CWyVI0 pic.twitter.com/ypNFwBGHbi
— migs | ia (@teneo_OBF) March 25, 2026
The FIVB Board of Administration in February greenlit a set of rule, regulation and procedural tests for rollout during the 2026 international season, and the “mid-rally challenge bookmark” provision states:
“Teams may mark any action during a rally that could potentially be challenged at its conclusion. At the end of the rally, if the team loses the rally, it may pursue only one of the challenges they have identified. A mid-rally action cannot be challenged without a bookmark. If both teams bookmark actions in the same rally, the sequence will be reviewed and the first fault observed will prevail. The bookmarking system must be linked to the start rally button to allow faster video review.”
The Tigresses had an opportunity to equalize in the fourth set but unraveled further, losing 25-14 and seeing their three-game winning streak snapped.
Angge Poyos led UST with 20 points on 19 attacks and one block. Regina Jurado added 12 points on 10 attacks, one block, and a service ace, while Blessing Unekwe chipped in eight points in her best outing so far.
The UST Golden Tigresses will next face the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws on Sunday, March 29, at the Quadricentennial Pavilion.
Editor’s Note: The headline of this article was updated on March 26 at 1:30 p.m. for greater accuracy, and the body was revised at the same time to include details provided by UP head coach Fabio Menta explaining why the UAAP now follows the new FIVB rule.
