UAAP: UST enters stepladder Final Four after defeating FEU in four sets

University of Santo Tomas kept their UAAP Season 88 campaign going, overcoming Far Eastern University, 16-25, 25-20, 25-18, 25-15, in the women’s division playoff for fourth place this afternoon at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

Entering the stepladder Final Four picture, the Golden Tigresses quickly bounced back from suffering a reverse sweep loss against defending champions National University last Wednesday.

READ MORE | UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball: How does the stepladder semifinals work?

Refusing to let this game be the last for UST this season, star hitter Angge Poyos exploded for a Player of the Game-worthy performance, scoring 26 points on 22 attacks and four blocks, seven excellent receptions, and five digs.

“Sobrang saya lang din talaga kasi pinaghandaan namin ‘tong game na ‘to,” stated the 22-year-old Poyos.

“Masakit man yung pagkatalo namin nung last Wednesday pero nag move-on kaagad kami, talagang tinrabaho namin, and yung effort ng bawa't isa talaga nakita naman…Grateful na nakuha namin yung panalo today and sana magtuloy-tuloy na sa Final Four.”

(I'm just so happy because we really prepared for this game. Though the loss last Wednesday hurt, we moved on right away, got to work and the effort everyone put in showed... We're grateful to get the win today and hopefully it continues in the Final Four.)

After a slow opening set, wherein it struggled to find any rhythm, UST came roaring back in the succeeding two windows, taking a one set lead, 2-1.

In the fourth set, instead of getting fazed by an early FEU surge, the España-based squad quickly retaliated, building a healthy seven-point lead, 17-10. Poyos and Regina Jurado inspired such run, with the former scoring three straight points, and the latter capping it off with thunderous cross court attack.  

From there, the Golden Tigresses had no let up, putting up a mighty defensive front, suffocating floor defense, all alongside dependable scoring from various players. The fourth canto ended in favor of UST, 25-16, subsequently ending FEU’s season.

“Sobrang proud sa team and happy din kasi alam naman naming lahat kung ano yung mga pinagdaanan namin. At least nakaka-survive kami and I’m sure mas magiging eager yung team especially pagdating namin sa stepladder,” said UST head coach Shaq Delos Santos.

(So proud of the team and happy because we all know what we had to go through. At least we survived and I'm sure the team is going to be more eager especially when we get to the stepladder.)

Captain and libero Detdet Pepito also made her presence felt throughout the bout, producing 18 excellent digs and 15 excellent receptions. Setter Cassie Carballo meanwhile dished out 21 excellent sets

Notching its sixth consecutive Final Four appearance, UST will now prepare for its matchup against Adamson University in the first stepladder game.

On the other hand, now-eliminated FEU was led by captain Gerz Petallo with 14 points and nine digs, while middle blocker Clarisse Loresco followed suit with 11 markers on eight attacks, two blocks, and one service ace.

—JMB, GMA News