By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Tigresses continued their winning ways after taking down the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, 25-11, 25-23, 23-25, 25-12, in the ongoing UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Tournament on March 5, 2025, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
After dropping their season opener against the Far Eastern University (FEU), the Golden Tigresses immediately bounced back and extended their winning streak to four straight games.
Regina Jurado displayed an efficient offensive performance for UST and kicked off their momentum-boosting first-set run as they blasted UP with an early double-digit lead.
The crafty leftie caught UP’s middle blockers off guard several times, hammering down cross-court hits that were on-point at the line while scoring back-to-back drop balls that pushed their lead to 23-11.
UST survived a wild second set affair as UP tightened their screws by fortifying their backline coverage, only to be spoiled by Angge Poyos’ heroics in the clutch.
The Fighting Maroons finally clinched a set in the third to stay alive in the match, but another overwhelming offensive avalanche was unleashed by the Golden Tigresses early in the fourth that steered them to a commanding start.
The duo of Jurado and Poyos began their resurgence as the 1-2 punch took turns turning Cassie Carballo’s sets into gold with their relentless attacks and unstoppable down-the-line hits.
When UST’s advantage reached double digits midway through the fourth, Marga Altea and Bianca Plaza picked up where Jurado and Poyos left off to help the Golden Tigresses seal the match with a 4-1 victory.
Jurado top-scored UST with a game-high 22-point production built from 19 successful attacks and eight excellent digs while Poyos chipped in 21 markers, seven excellent receptions, and four excellent digs.
Carballo maintained her stellar playmaking for the Golden Tigresses and dished out 21 excellent sets alongside seven points.
Detdet Pepito, UST’s leader and superstar libero, fortified their floor coverage with an impressive stat line of 22 excellent digs and 10 excellent receptions.
The Golden Tigresses will gun for their fifth straight victory of the UAAP Season 87 on March 9, 2025, against the Ateneo de Manila University while UP will seek to bounce back on the same day against National University.