LIVE: UAAP women’s volleyball stepladder semifinals: NU vs UST

• In the stepladder semifinals, NU Lady Bulldogs (#2) and UST Golden Tigresses (#4) dispute the last Finals spot in the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball.
• UST earlier eliminated Adamson Lady Falcons (#3) to advance, while NU earned a bye.

SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball Stepladder

May 2,  Saturday – Smart Araneta Coliseum

• 3pm – UST Golden Tigresses vs NU Lady Bulldogs (women’s stepladder #2)

UAAP: NU ousts UST, sets up women’s Finals clash vs La Salle

MANILA, Philippines—National University marched to the UAAP Finals for the fifth straight season and kept its three-peat bid alive after defeating University of Santo Tomas in the Season 88 stepladder semifinals, 20-25, 26-24, 26-24, 25-21, at Smart Araneta Coliseum on Saturday.

After fumbling the opening set, the Lady Bulldogs responded with three straight to set up another Finals showdown with unbeaten La Salle Lady Archers.

WATCH: The NU Lady Bulldogs are back to the #UAAPFinals and their three-peat dreams remain alive. | @MeloFuertesINQ

•⁠ ⁠Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/KLYPhlxmx8 pic.twitter.com/sDRfRP9fKY

— INQUIRER Sports (@inquirersports) May 2, 2026

“I trusted all the players, not just the stars,” coach Regine Diego said. “We have a lot of players who are capable inside so we’re grateful. Hopefully, we get to use that in the championship.”

NU trailed 18-14 in the fourth set before showing its championship grit and unleashing a decisive 10-1 run to reach match point, 24-19.

THANK YOU, CAP 🫡

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Detdet Pepito bids the Yellow Sea goodbye after exhausting her final playing year with the UST Golden Tigresses. #UAAPSeason88 | @MeloFuertesINQ

•⁠ ⁠Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/KLYPhlxmx8 pic.twitter.com/90N830oX7X

— INQUIRER Sports (@inquirersports) May 2, 2026

LIVE UPDATES: NU vs UST – UAAP women’s volleyball Stepladder #2

DLSU and NU are set to clash in the finals of the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball tournament.

•⁠ ⁠Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/KLYPhlxmx8 pic.twitter.com/yAOquPzfVe

— INQUIRER Sports (@inquirersports) May 2, 2026

NU! LET’S GO!

The Lady Bulldogs keep their three-peat bid alive after defeating UST in four sets. #UAAPSeason88 @inquirersports pic.twitter.com/EqNIQaZLRN

— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) May 2, 2026

• FINAL: NU Lady Bulldogs advance to the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball Finals after beating UST Tigresses in four sets, 20-25, 26-24, 26-24, 25-21.
• Lady Bulldogs with a 9-1 run, they are two points away from heading into the finals.
• NU leads 20-18 over UST. The Lady Bulldogs are closing in on the win.
• UST up 4-1 to start the fourth set.
• END OF THIRD SET: NU 26, UST 24. Lady Bulldogs rally to take a 2-1 lead in the stepladder semis match.
• UST at set point but NU forces a deuce.
• Third set tied again at 22-all.
• 21-20 lead for UST as NU rallies.
• Tigresses holding on to a 17-15 advantage.
• Third set still tied at 14-all.
• NU with threee straight points to tie the third set, 11-all.
• Tigresses take an 11-8 advantage. NU calls for timeout.
• UST now in the lead, 8-7. First technical timeout.
• Back to back points for UST. NU still up 7-5.
• 7-3 lead for NU. Maaya is pumped.
• Maaya scoes. 4-2 lead for NU.
• 1-1 tie to start Set 3.
• END OF SECOND SET: NU 26, UST 24. Lady Bulldogs tie the match at one set apiece.
• Panique down the line. NU back at set point, 25-24.
• NU reaches set point, but Reg Jurado forces a deuce for UST.
• Alinsug quick. 23-22 for NU.
• Set 2 tied again at 22-all.
• Lady Bulldogs back in the lead, 21-20 on Alinsug’s hit.
• NU ties the second set, 20-all.
• Panique cross court. NU within one, 20-19.
• Panique with the kill. NU down 20-18.
• 19-16 advantage for the Tigresses.
• Sam Cantada down and holding on to her ankle. She was able to walk to the bench.
• Angge Poyos gives UST the lead, 17-16.
• NU still holding on to a one-point lead, 16-15.
• Mata gives NU back the lead, 13-12.
• Tigresses have tied the second set at 12-all.
• UST, though, responds and cuts the lead to one, 10-9.
• Lady Bulldogs trying to pull away with a 9-5 advantage.
• Three straight points give NU the lead, 8-5.
• NU ties it, 4-4.
• Early 4-2 start for the Tigresses.
• Set 2 underway with a 1-1 tie.
• END OF FIRST SET: UST, 25 NU, 20. 1-0 lead for the Tigresses.
• UST at set point, 24-20.
• NU within 3, 23-20.
• NU block on Angge Poyos. Lady Bulldogs down 23-18.
• Angge Poyos kill. 23-17 for UST.
• UST holding on to a 22-17 advantage in the first set.
• Reg Jurado makes it 20-15 for UST.
• NU trying to stay alive in Set 1, cuts UST’s lead to 19-15.
• 18-12 lead now for the Tigresses.
• Panique off the block. NU down 14-11.
• UST stretches its lead to 14-0 after Poyos’ hit.
• Panique responds for NU. Lady Bulldogs trail 11-9.
• Ace for UST. 11-8 lead in Set 1.
• 10-8 lead for UST after a long rally ends in a drop from Jurado.
• UST leads 8-7 heading into the first technical timeout.
• Angge Poyos gives UST the lead back, 5-6.
• First set tied at 5-5.
• Sam Cantada scores. NU only down by one, 5-4.
• 5-2 lead for UST after a kill from Reg Jurado.
• 2-0 start for UST.

For one of these teams, there’s no tomorrow. NU and UST duke it out for the last bus ticket to the #UAAPFinals where undefeated La Salle waits. | @MeloFuertesINQ pic.twitter.com/hrxNLhDsN7

— INQUIRER Sports (@inquirersports) May 2, 2026

UAAP: Streaking UST, refreshed NU dispute second Finals slot

There’s no doubt that the past week in the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball tournament has been all about University of Santo Tomas—at how doggedly the Growling Tigresses have scratched and clawed their way in clinging to dear life.

They enter another stretch of the same, and the stakes this time have gotten bigger and their foes fiercer.

Santo Tomas’ Cinderella run will be put to its toughest test on Saturday when it battles defending champion National University for a place in the best-of-three title series at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao where the Lady Bulldogs will return to action after watching the playoff fireworks for more than the past week.

That could work against the favor of the defending champions, as they have just one shot at advancing to the Finals but will be without legitimate game action since beating this same Santo Tomas team in five gripping sets two Wednesdays ago to sew up No. 2 slot.

UAAP: Coach wants more from UST Tigresses as NU challenge awaits

MANILA, Philippines—Despite a dominant sweep over Adamson, University of Santo Tomas coach Shaq Delos Santos wants to see more from his players if they are to keep their UAAP championship hopes alive.

After all, the Golden Tigresses are facing a different beast in the next phase of the stepladder semifinals.

“I think we need a lot more effort. We’ll have to triple our efforts from today,” Delos Santos said in Filipino after a 25-16, 25-18, 25-19 win over the Lady Falcons on Wednesday, bracing for another knockout game against defending champion National University next.

Coach Shaq delos Santos steers UST closer to the UAAP Finals.

They will, however, need to get past a hungry NU squad in the next phase of the #UAAPSeason88 stepladder semis. @inquirersports pic.twitter.com/0GLZCCUCD1

— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) April 29, 2026

Taking down the three-peat seeking Lady Bulldogs is a daunting task, but not impossible.

In fact, the last time the two rivals met exactly a week ago, NU needed to come back from two sets down to escape UST.

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TAGS: UAAP Season 88

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