UST Tigresses celebrate their championship in the 2024 V-League Women’s Collegiate Challenge. They beat the FEU Lady Tamaraws in three games. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — University of Santo Tomas finally won a major volleyball championship after 14 years.
The Golden Tigresses outlasted the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws, 24-26, 25-20, 25-21, 25-14, in a winner-take-all Game 3 to capture the 2024 V-League Women’s Collegiate Challenge crown on Friday at Philsports Arena.
After their premature celebration was spoiled in Game 2 as Cassie Carballo’s supposed title-clinching dump was deemed a net fault and eventually lost the match, the Tigresses made sure to get the job done this time, winning their first championship since the 2010 V-League and UAAP Season 72.
READ: UST Tigresses and the ghosts of Game 2s at Mall of Asia Arena
It took 14 years for UST to win a major league since Shaq Delos Santos, now an assistant coach to head tactician KungFu Reyes, steered the Aiza Maizo and Rhea Dimaculangan-led team to a pair of titles in the Sports Vision-organized league and the UAAP in the same year.
Tournament MVP Angge Poyos, who missed Game 2 due to illness, settled her unfinished for the Tigresses, leading the way to overcome a first-set loss before getting the better of the Lady Tamaraws in the last three sets as she erupted for 31 points.
“Very happy kasi nakabalik ako sa Game 3. Ang goal ko lang talaga is makatulong sa team so thankful na nakuha namin yung championship namin,” said the UAAP Rookie of the Year poured in 29 kills, two blocks and an ace.
UST Tigresses celebrate their championship in the 2024 V-League Women’s Collegiate Challenge. They beat the FEU Lady Tamaraws in three games. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Cassie Carballo, the Best Setter of the league, was crowned Finals MVP after anchoring UST’s offense with 19 excellent sets on top of five points. Reg Jurado had 15 points including the two championship-clinching attacks, while Jonna Perdido added 10 points and tallied 14 digs and eight excellent receptions to help captain libero Detdet Pepito, who had 17 digs.
“Siyempre masaya kasi yung grupo at least nakarecover kami from upset loss sa Game 2. Masaya din kasi complete yung grupo namin bukod kay Em. Naexperience din namin maging champion dito sa V-League. Talagang overwhelming yung tuwa na nararamdaman namin,” said longtime UST coach KungFu Reyes, referring to injured Best Middle Blocker Em Banagua, who hurt her knee in Game 2.
UST swept the opener of the best-of-three title series but absorbed its first loss in 10 games in Game 2 as the TIgresses’ premature celebration was spoiled by the Lady Tams, who equalized with a 25-22. 22-25, 25-21, 19-25, 17-15 win.
The España-based spikers overcame a tough challenge in the second and third sets as they needed to erase a 13-17 deficit behind Poyos’ scoring prowess to tie the game to one set apiece after Cassie Carballo’s set-clinching ace.
READ: UST stars Angge Poyos, Gboy De Vega named V-League MVPs
Poyos and the Tigresses carried the momentum in the third to take a 2-1 advantage and pulled away in the fourth, dominating with a 7-2 start and never looking back with a 17-6 spread care of the V-League MVP to complete a masterful preseason campaign.
The Lady Tamaraws settled for silver for the second straight year, following a runner-up finish last season, losing to College of Saint Benilde in the finals.
FEU overcame a 20-22 deficit from Poyos’ three consecutive points in the first as substitutes Lovely Lopez and Alyzza Devosora tied the game to 23-all. Jonna Perdido brought UST at set point but Gerz Petallo saved a point.
Faida Bakanke nailed a clutch block on Perdido to take the advantage before the latter’s attack went off the mark, surrendering the opening set to the Lady Tams, who couldn’t sustain the momentum.
Bakanke led FEU with 16 points including a game-high four blocks. Jean Asis chipped in 12 points, while setter Tin Ubaldo had 16 excellent sets and two aces.