UST slams the door on UP in UAAP women’s volleyball

Games on Saturday
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
9 a.m. – Ateneo vs UE (men)
11 a.m. – FEU vs DLSU (men)
1 p.m. – Ateneo vs UE (women)
3 p.m. – FEU vs DLSU (women)

UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas (UST) booted out the University of the Philippines (UP), 25-20, 25-21, 25-18, to clinch a Final Four ticket and boost its twice-to-beat bid in the resumption of the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Peaking at the right time, the UST Golden Tigresses punched their fourth straight win to jack up their slate at 9-4, slamming the door on the UP Fighting Maroons (6-7) with their seventh loss in the process, with still a game to go in the two-round elims.

Santo Tomas’ win also gave twice-to-beat rivals De La Salle University (8-4) and Far Eastern University (8-5) early rides into the Final Four, avoiding any possible complications due to UP’s costly defeat to complete the playoff picture.

But more than that, the Golden Tigresses put themselves in prime position to seal the other twice-to-beat incentive entering their final test this weekend against the reigning champion National University Lady Bulldogs, who clinched the No. 1 seed and the first bonus with an 11-2 slate.

Making it happen was Angge Poyos, who fired 19 points on 18 hits as Santo Tomas sent UP packing in only 90 minutes of play despite the latter marching into a duel with an all-time high morale after slaying La Salle before the UAAP break in observance of the Holy Week.

Regina Jurado chipped in 13 while Mary Banagua stepped up big time with 12 points on eight blocks in Santo Tomas’ fifth straight Final Four appearance, including a finals run last season that just fell short against the mighty NU.

“Our system is always here despite the changes in roster every year. Players come and go but the system stays. Now, we just have to keep pushing and we will not stop until we reach the ultimate goal. We just have to better every game,” said coach Kungfu Reyes as Santo Tomas moved closer to redemption with yet another semis entry.

Up against a young but formidable UP side that scored big wins against NU and La Salle this season, Santo Tomas leaned to its veteran pedigree in the last two sets to complete the wipeout.

The Golden Tigresses pounced on the Fighting Maroons in the first set but had to dig deep in the next two, running away from 20-all deadlock in the second with a 5-1 finishing kick and unleashing a 16-9 start in the third for the win.

Niña Ytang was the lone bright spot for UP this time around with 16 points on 13 hits and three blocks after a scattered onslaught in the team’s 26-24, 18-25, 19-25, 25-22, 16-14 stunner of La Salle to stay in con-tention.

Kianne Olango, Joan Monares and Kassy Doering had seven points each in UP’s gallant fifth-place finish under first-year mentor Benson Bocboc and will go for a graceful exit against Adamson on Saturday.

Meanwhile in the men’s division, Final Four-bound Santo Tomas (9-4) and La Salle (9-4) took care of business with wins against University of the Philippines, 25-17, 25-20, 25-11, and Adamson, 25-20, 27-25, 24-26, 25-17, respec-tively, to stay tied at No. 3 heading into their final matches.

FEU (12-1) and NU (11-2) already clinched the Top 2 seeds plus the twice-to-beat incentives, awaiting their semis counterparts pending the positioning of Santo Tomas and La Salle. — John Bryan Ulanday