UAAP: UST girls secure Final 4 spot; NUNS assured of twice-to-beat

MANILA — University of Santo Tomas is the second team to clinch a semifinals spot in the UAAP Season 89 girls’ volleyball tournament after the Junior Golden Tigresses swept UP Integrated School, 25-14, 25-15, 25-14, on Sunday at the Blue Eagle Gym.

The result kept UST in second place at 9-2, while UPIS is now officially eliminated from the Final 4 race after they dropped to 1-10.

The Junior Golden Tigresses widened their advantage from 15-11 to 19-12 in the third set with a five-point run highlighted by back-to-back aces from Anneli Manzanillo. 

UST maintained its momentum down the stretch, claiming the final five points of the match. Kaite Cruz’s attack brought the Tigresses to match point before Erin Sotto finished the sweep with a quick attack.

“Thankful again na nakapasok sa Final Four. And then marami pang kailangang i-polish lalong-lalo na entering this Final Four format. So again, back to training ulit kami,” said UST assistant coach Yani Fernandez.

Nicole Pelaez led UST with nine points, highlighted by six attacks, two blocks, and an ace in two sets. Patricia Mendoza added seven points in a single set, tallying six attacks and a block, while Andreaj Tan Chun Bing dished out 12 excellent sets in the 63-minute contest.

Niña Abad paced UPIS with 10 points on nine attacks and a block.

Meanwhile, Final Four-bound National University-Nazareth School secured the first twice-to-beat advantage with a 25-10, 25-16, 25-8 sweep of Ateneo de Manila University, extending its unbeaten run to 12 matches.

The Lady Bullpups opened the third set with a commanding 13-0 run, capped by consecutive blocks from Ysabella Cruz. 

NUNS continued to pile on the points, putting together an 11-3 surge to move within a point of victory at 24-4, with Xyz Rayco delivering the attack that brought them to match point.

Ateneo mounted a brief response with four consecutive points, capitalizing on two errors while Calie Tugade added a block and Juliana Peregrino fired an ace. Rayco eventually halted the Blue Eagles’ run, finding the floor with an attack to seal the victory.

Rayco proved difficult to contain, pouring in 13 points on 10 attacks and three aces for the defending champions, who maintained their hold on the top spot in the standings. 

Jhaynna Bulandres provided another scoring outlet with 12 points, including five attacks, five aces, and two blocks. Cruz and Raine Alonzo chipped in 11 points apiece.

The Blue Eagles dropped to 4-7 but remained in sixth place.

Adamson University also swept the University of the East, 25-23, 27-25, 25-7, while Far Eastern University-Diliman defeated De La Salle Zobel, 25-8, 25-14, 25-17, as both teams improved to identical 7-4 records to strengthen their respective Final Four bids.

Adamson shifted gears in the third set, racing to a 13-1 advantage after two closely contested frames. UE struggled to generate offense, managing just four attack points, with the rest of its scoring output coming from Lady Baby Falcons errors.

The Lady Baby Falcons put the match away with six consecutive points, highlighted by two straight aces from Samantha Cañete during the closing stretch. Majara Ocampo’s long attack gave Adamson match point before Cañete sealed the victory with her third ace of the sequence.

Cañete finished with a team-high 16 points on 12 attacks and four service aces in the 69-minute victory. Jennica Misajon added 11 points, while Yzobelle Katigbak rounded out Adamson’s leading scorers with nine.

Elaine Garces orchestrated the offense with 12 excellent sets, while Jarelle Mesa anchored the defense with 19 excellent digs and 10 excellent receptions.

Janah Sumagaysay paced UE with eight points on four attacks and four aces as the Junior Lady Warriors absorbed their 11th consecutive loss.

Alexa Amana made her presence felt at the net and from the service line, finishing with 18 points on 13 attacks and five aces to lead FEU-Diliman’s bounce-back victory. 

MJ Udeagbala added 10 points, while Emile Guivani facilitated the offense with nine excellent sets in the 57-minute match.

Kylie Celada led DLSZ with eight points on six attacks and two aces, but the defeat dropped the Junior Lady Spikers to 5-6, good for fifth place.