The UST Golden Tigresses enter a must-win situation in their final two elimination-round matches of the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball tournament.
To clinch a Final Four berth outright, the Tigresses have to defeat both of their remaining opponents, the UP Fighting Maroons and the NU Lady Bulldogs.
A two-game sweep would raise the Tigresses to a 9-5 record, enough for the No. 4 seed.
Depending on other outcomes, they could meet either the No. 3 seed or even top-seeded De La Salle University if the Lady Spikers fall to NU in their final game.
A split result, however, would make things more complicated.
An 8-6 finish would likely send UST into a playoff for the last semifinal berth against FEU, as long as the Lady Tamaraws end their campaign with a win over the Ateneo Blue Eagles after their Saturday defeat to Adamson at the Quadricentennial Pavilion. UST won both games against FEU during the eliminations.
Two losses would leave the Tigresses at 7-7 and knock them out of Final Four contention for the first time since Season 80.
For now, UST needs to handle its business against UP, a 5-8 squad playing with nothing to lose and everything to prove. The match serves as the final UAAP appearance for graduating Maroons Niña Ytang, Irah Jaboneta, and Joan Monares.
UST defeated the Fighting Maroons in four sets during their first-round meeting. But an even tougher test awaits in NU, which has won its last six matches against the Tigresses dating to Season 86.
The Tigresses take on UP on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Mall of Asia Arena.
