TITLE HOPES shone for the UST Golden Tigresses as they claimed a finals berth after ousting defending champions DLSU Lady Spikers in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball semifinals on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Tigresses survived the Lady Spikers in a five-setter rush, 25-20, 16-25, 25-20, 19-25, 15-7, booking their finals ticket for the first time since a similar win in Season 81 over the same team on the same day in 2019 – remarkably at the same venue.
The 12-time champions Lady Spikers suffered an early exit this time, failing to defend their crown and to secure a third straight finals appearance.
UST kicked things off with an eight-point advantage in the first set after a quick hit from middle blocker Pia Abbu, 20-12. DLSU blasted a 7-3 run capped by a Shevan Laput block, 23-19.
Tigress rookie star Angge Poyos took matters into her own hands as she pierced through the defense to take the opening set, 25-20.
After successive service errors from both sides, the Lady Spikers unleashed a 10-0 avalanche led by the block party of Thea Gagate and Jyne Soreño during the second frame, 19-11. Laput launched a bomb to put the game at one set apiece, 25-16.
The match heated up in the third frame as both squads traded blows. Reigning MVP and Lady Spiker Angel Canino put the game at a deadlock after slapping a hit, 18-all. However, Poyos and Reg Jurado gained the upper hand, scoring the succeeding six points for UST to take the set, 25-20.
With their season on the line, the Taft-based squad took control of the fourth frame after the 11-all deadlock. Middle blocker Gagate converted a much-needed attack to force a fifth set, 25-19.
Unfazed coming into the fifth set, the Tigresses mounted a massive 6-0 run initiated by a Poyos attack, 9-3. The Lady Spikers tried to respond, but the Tiger power was too much to overcome. UST’s prized playmaker Cassie Carballo sealed the victory with an ace, 15-7.
“This season, team effort is what happened, there is no one-man team… Everyone worked hard,” UST captain and libero Detdet Pepito told The Flame.
Poyos, also the league’s second-best scorer, led UST to triumph, exploding 28 points built on 25 attacks, two aces and a block, while lefty spiker Jonna Perdido scored 16 kills and a couple of blocks.
Laput gave a 20-point effort to anchor DLSU’s load. Gagate contributed 16 markers, while Canino added 12 kills and two aces.
The Tigresses will face the winner of the upcoming do-or-die match between the NU Lady Bulldogs and the FEU Lady Tamaraws on May 8. F
