UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas completed a masterful Shakey's Super League (SSL) hat trick, rallying past College of St. Benilde, 22-25, 25-8, 25-12, 25-22, to rule the 2026 Collegiate National Invitationals on Sunday.
The championship gave the España school its third SSL title in just two months after its juniors team ruled both the Shakey's Girls Volleyball Invitational League Rising Stars Cup Division 1 last May and the National Invitationals juniors division earlier this month.
It also delivered the Golden Tigresses their first SSL seniors crown, capping a dominant seven-game sweep after recovering from a sluggish opening set by overwhelming the Lady Blazers in the next three frames.
READ: UST survives St. John's to rule Shakey's Jrs Nat'l Invitationals
Angge Poyos, who won her first career tournament MVP plum, and newly-named captain Reg Jurado starred in the title-clinching win, finishing with 20 and 21 points, respectively.
Rookie Kim Rubin added 12 points, while Blessing Unekwe made her presence felt at the net with 10 markers, seven coming off UST's 14 blocks.
"Sinabi ko sa kanila na kalimutan na lang muna nila 'yung nangyari sa first set. Kilala ko naman sila maglaro. Alam naman namin kung ano ang kaya nilang gawin," said Shaq Delos Santos, who secured his first championship since returning for a second stint as UST head coach 16 years after his first.
"Sobrang happy kasi alam naman namin na ang preparation namin medyo ang layo pa. Marami pa kaming kailangang trabahuhin. Good sign ito na nakakuha kami agad ng championship. Ito ang paghuhugutan namin to work hard pa lalo na pagdating ng UAAP."
Reigning NCAA Rookie of the Year Cams Bartolome scored 16 points, while Mary Grace Borromeo chipped in 12 for the Lady Blazers.
Earlier, Letran bagged the bronze medal with a 25-21, 18-25, 25-17, 25-23 win over Australian guest team Southern Storm Melbourne behind Judiel Nitura's 19-point performance.
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