Volleyball: UST makes quick work of Arellano to punch Finals berth

MANILA — University of Santo Tomas is headed to the finals of the 2026 V-League Collegiate Challenge after a clinical 25–16, 25–21, 25–15 sweep of Arellano University on Saturday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

Already ahead by two sets, the Tigresses banked on their net defense to take the fight out of the Lady Chiefs in the closer.

‎Marga Altea and Zinny Unekwe were solid at the net, even as setter Cassie Carballo delivering a  kill of her own for an 8–2 lead in the third.‎

‎Altea then scored three straight midway into the set, off another block and two easy putaways from the net, to put up a 16–9 margin that UST carried up to the end of the sweep.

“Siyempre, happy kami (to reach the Finals), especially yung mga players kasi nga medyo shaky kami buong eliminations. Pero good thing na nakapag-perform kami nang maayos,” said head coach Shaq delos Santos. 

“Not enough do’n sa gusto naming mangyari, but good sign siya na may future ‘yung team,” he added.

‎Reg Jurado anchored the side on both ends as the captain had 19 points off 16 attacks, one block, and two service aces, and five digs.

‎‎Altea chipped in 13 markers, four of them coming from those timely blocks, and eight excellent receptions, while Angge Poyos added 13 points, three coming from the service line.‎

The Tigresses had to shake off a slow start before eventually taking the opening frame. ‎A 1–2 play from Carballo and a down-the-line kill from Altea posted five-point leads, enough as the side took the set advantage.

‎‎Arellano kept the game close in the second with Cris Servidad and Catherine Chu getting the kills, and UST giving out free points on errors.‎

‎Altea, Poyos, and Jurado then reeled the UAAP side back in control and they never looked back for the 2–0 lead.

‎No Lady Chief ended in double figures, with Keisha Abitria coming closest with nine points off the bench.

‎‎Servidad was limited to seven, while Chu’s points came in between with just four.

‎‎The Golden Tigresses will take on Adamson University in the Finals, after the Lady Falcons defeated University of the East in the other semis pairing.

‎Game 1 of the best-of-three Finals is scheduled for Wednesday, October 7, still at the same San Juan venue.

‎‎Arellano, who had a dream start to a 5–0 record, will try to save their season in the bronze medal match, also set on Wednesday, against the Lady Warriors.