THE UST Junior Golden Tigresses were denied a finals berth after yielding to the NUNS Lady Bullpups in four sets, 33-31, 25-22, 20-25, 25-18, in the UAAP Season 88 girls’ volleyball semifinals at the Ateneo Blue Eagles Gym.
NUNS broke the top-seed curse on Saturday, Dec. 6, becoming the only high school volleyball squad this season to advance to the finals without needing its twice-to-beat bonus.
Behind efforts from team captain Kimberly Rubin, Mary Pelaez and Jezel Silvestre, UST erased NUNS’ six-point lead early in the opening frame to force a 16-all deadlock.
The Lady Bullpups refused to fold as a momentum-swinging block by Isabella Cruz granted her team a third set-point chance before Janine Bartolabac hammered down the clincher for a grueling 33–31 finish.
Despite trading points in the second set, the Lady Bullpups continued to stay in control, closing the frame with a 25-22 edge for a commanding 2-0 set lead.
Denying NUNS of a straight-set win, UST clawed back in the third set as they ballooned the largest cushion of the match, 22-13.
The UST girls sealed the third set with 19 attacks, doubling NUNS’ eight and extending the match.
Rubin’s success halted the NUNS’ eight-point lead mid-fourth set, but the Bullpups still rebuilt a seven-point cushion and never looked back.
Both Pelaez and Rubin spearheaded UST’s play, standing out with 20 points each.
For NUNS, Berayo also tallied 20 markers, while Bartolabac added 17 and Slash Obera contributed 12 in the victory.
The Lady Bullpups now await their opponent in the best-of-three finals series. F – Jean Chloe Apilat
