In a nail-biting showdown that kept fans on the edge of their seats, the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Tigresses emerged victorious against the defending champion De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Spikers in a thrilling five-set match.
Despite squandering a two-set advantage, the Golden Tigresses displayed resilience and determination to secure a hard-fought 25-18, 25-23, 14-25, 16-25, 15-12 victory over the Lady Spikers at the Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday night. With this impressive win, UST maintained its unbeaten streak, improving to a perfect 3-0 record in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament.
The match witnessed a stellar performance from UST’s Jonna Perdido, who earned Player of the Game honors after delivering an outstanding display on the court. Perdido showcased her offensive prowess with 24 points, including 21 kills and three blocks. Angeline Poyos also made significant contributions, recording 22 points, while Mary Margaret Banagua added 11 markers to the team’s tally. Captain Detdet Pepito once again demonstrated her leadership and defensive skills with 18 receptions and 12 digs, while setter Cassy Carballo orchestrated the team’s offense with 16 excellent sets.
The victory over DLSU marked a significant milestone for UST, as it handed the Lady Spikers their first loss of the season. DLSU, now standing at 2-1, faced its first defeat since the previous season when they fell to the Tigresses in four sets during UAAP Season 85.