WITH THE eliminations coming to a close, the UST Golden Tigresses will strive to earn a statement win over the reigning champions NU Lady Bulldogs to secure the second seed and a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four.
Last season’s finalists are set to square off in the highly anticipated final elimination round match of the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament at the SMART Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, April 27.
UST head coach Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes said the Tigresses had already achieved their goal at the start of the season—to make the Final Four.
“We’ve already gotten what we’ve been saying since Day 1… make it to the Final Four first because you can’t make the finals if you don’t enter the Final Four,” Reyes said after the Tigresses swept the UP Fighting Maroons to book their fifth straight trip to the Final Four last Wednesday.
“This is the battle we’re fighting for placement… the fight here is about ranking to gain a a twice-to-beat advantage,” he added.
The Tigresses have suffered four straight losses to the Lady Bulldogs, with their last win dating back to the opener of Season 86 in February 2024.
“There is hope to win because no one is playing yet, so that’s what we will do: just stick to the plan, go back to hard court and then we will execute everything we have… That’s what’s important,” Reyes said.
A win for the Tigresses, who currently hold a 9-4 win-loss record, would put them on lock for the second seed and hand them the remaining twice-to-beat ticket. However, a loss would set them up in a playoff battle with the DLSU Lady Spikers for the incentive.
Regardless of the outcome, the FEU Lady Tamaraws will remain in fourth spot because of a lower set ratio.
The España-based squad is riding on a five-game winning streak heading into the NU match, a stretch needed to get into rhythm. However, coming off a silver-medal finish last season, UST co-captain and senior libero Detdet Pepito said the Tigresses are feeling the pressure to enter the semifinals.
“So during Holy Week, we really set our minds to not lose just like that,” Pepito said.
Entering her potential final elimination match, Pepito is holding on to the Tigresses’ core as they go up against fierce rivals Lady Bulldogs.
“It really comes down to your attitude and the trust you give your teammates, coaches and yourself,” she added.
In their previous meeting in the first round, UST faltered despite a 2-1 set lead as NU counted on Alyssa Solomon’s 24-point breakout performance to steal the win. F – Sophia Carmela dela Cuesta with reports from Nicole Atuan
