The UST Golden Tigresses fended off the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, 23-25, 25-21, 25-22, 25-19, to secure at least a playoff for the No. 4 seed in the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball tournament on Sunday, April 19, at Mall of Asia Arena.
Tigresses captain Detdet Pepito recorded 18 excellent digs and 13 excellent receptions to anchor UST’s defense in the victory.
The Final Four remains uncertain for the Tigresses, but the victory guaranteed them at least a playoff for the No. 4 seed after improving to 8-5.
UST will close its elimination-round campaign against the NU Lady Bulldogs on Wednesday, April 22, at Smart Araneta Coliseum. If UST loses and FEU wins its final elimination game against Ateneo on the same date, it will play in a playoff for the No. 4 seed against the Lady Tamaraws, but a win would secure a Final Four berth outright.
Meanwhile, UP closed its Season 88 campaign with a 5-9 record.
“Alam naman natin na super importanteng itong [panalo] para sa campaign namin sa Final Four,” UST assistant coach Yani Fernandez said postgame. “Pinaalalahanan lang namin ‘yong team na tingnan kung saan kami natatalo at dapat hindi na ‘to mauulit sa Wednesday game against NU.”
The next game on the schedule is De La Salle University (DLSU) against National University (NU). If the Lady Spikers win, they would earn an outright finals berth and trigger a stepladder format.
Angge Poyos paced UST with 25 points on 24 attacks and one block, while Regina Jurado contributed 17 points.
Leading by as much as 15-11 in the opening set, the Tigresses surrendered a 9-2 UP run, with Niña Ytang, Irah Jaboneta and Kianne Olango helping the Fighting Maroons take a 20-17 advantage.
The Fighting Maroons continued their surge, with Ytang’s crosscourt kill sealing the set, 25-23.
Tied at 14-all, UST countered with an 11-7 blitz highlighted by Jurado’s crosscourt kill to level the match at one set apiece, 25-21.
The third frame remained tightly contested at 19-all until UST unleashed a 6-3 spurt capped by Poyos’s off-the-block kill to secure the set, 25-22.
The Tigresses sustained their momentum, leading by as many as eight points in the fourth set, 20-12. UP, however, trimmed the gap after a quick 4-1 run powered by Ytang’s quick kill, 21-16.
