THE UST Golden Tigresses swept the San Beda Lady Red Spikers in their opening match of the 2026 Women’s V-League Collegiate Challenge, 25-15, 25-16, 25-19, on Sunday, Aug. 16, at the Gameville Central Park.
Returning middle blocker Em Banagua led the way with nine points, built on six attacks and three blocks, alongside Ashlee Knop’s seven markers.
“I’d like to thank all our rehab coaches when I was injured, because it really helped me maintain my level despite being out for so long and be ready for the upcoming games,” Banagua told The Flame.
“I’ll always try to do my best to help the team, knowing that they can also do it without me. But as much as possible, I’ll always try to help inside or outside the court, be it with the juniors or my seniors,” she added.
Coming off their dominant 2026 National Invitationals campaign, the Tigresses aim to claim another trophy to further bolster their efforts for the upcoming UAAP Season 89.
After taking an early 11-6 lead over San Beda in the opening frame, the Mendiola squad answered with a 5-1 blitz, benefitting from multiple UST errors to close the gap to a point, 12-11
The Espana crew retaliated with a 13-4 run of their own, capitalizing on multiple San Beda service errors, ultimately finished off by three consecutive points from Banagua, settling the set at 25-15.
The Tigresses started off the second set slow, quickly trailing 3-2 to the Lady Red Spikers, before UST unleashed a dominant 23-13 run to conclude the set at 25-16, with multiple errors continuing to plague San Beda throughout the frame.
A tighter contest between the two sides was more prominent in the final salvo, as Aieziel Parumog and three consecutive errors from UST suddenly gave San Beda an early 9-8 advantage.
Despite Parumog and Daisy Mae Cagas’s efforts, the Lady Red Spikers were unable to overcome numerous lapses, allowing another big UST run at 17-10, with Kim Rubin delivering the final kill at 25-19.
Rubin, Marga Altea and Angge Poyos delivered six points each in their dominant victory, as much of the team’s rotation relied on juniors over established starters.
Cagas paced San Beda with 11 markers, while Pagumoc followed suit with nine points.
The Tigresses will look to build on their momentum further on Aug. 22, Saturday, against the Arellano Lady Chiefs, at the same venue. F
