UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas overcame its biggest test of the tournament when it mattered most.
The Junior Golden Tigresses fought off a determined St. John's Institute-Bacolod side, recovering from a blown two-set lead and a five-point deficit in the tiebreak at 25-19, 25-23, 23-25, 18-25, 19-17 to capture the 2026 Shakey's Super League (SSL) Juniors National Invitationals title on Saturday at the Playtime FilOil Centre in San Juan.
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UST also needed four championship points of its own before finally putting away the stubborn Falcons in the near-three hour contest, who reached championship point first at 14-13 in the fifth set.
The triumph completed an unbeaten 8-0 campaign for the young España side and gave them their second Shakey's grassroots title of the year after winning the Girls Volleyball Invitational League (SGVIL) Rising Stars Cup Division 1 last May.
Tournament MVP Nicole Pelaez starred with 27 points on 24 attacks, two blocks, and an ace. Jyrah Romias added 17 points, while best middle blocker Anneli Manzanillo and Eliz Menchavez chipped in 14 and 13, respectively.
The Junior Golden Tigresses found themselves in deep trouble after trailing late in the deciding set before stringing together five unanswered points to level the score.
"Ang turning point ay nu'ng 12-8 sa fifth set. Nag-iba ang body language ng mga players namin. Pero 'yun talaga sa fifth set, kung sino ang mas gustong manalo at lalaban, sa kanya mapupunta ang panalo," said UST coach Yani Fernandez.
Soon-to-be La Salle winger Caera Celis paced the Falcons with 28 points, while Edz Escultura and Kristel Mirasol added 14 and 13, respectively.
Earlier, Arellano University High School captured third place after beating One La Salle, 19-25, 25-15, 25-20, 25-19.
Cassandra Paralejas poured in 22 points, while Arah Suizo and Ysabelle Borja added 12 and 10, respectively, as the Lady Braves avenged their elimination-round loss to One La Salle.
Joining Pelaez and Manzanillo in the awardees' circle are their UST teammate Andreaj Tan Chun Bing as best setter, St. John's Celis as best outside hitter, Arellano's Alyssa Villaluz as best libero and One La Salle's Antonella Jayobo as best opposite hitter.
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