UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas did three of the league’s forerunners, including itself, a favor — slamming the door shut into the UAAP Season 87 women's volleyball Final Four.
The Golden Tigresses advanced to the semifinals for the fifth straight season by ousting the University of the Philippines, 25-20, 25-21, 25-18, on Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.
In doing so, La Salle (8-4) and Far Eastern University (8-5) received free passes to the Final Four, as UST rose to 9-4 and the now-6-7 Fighting Maroons will no longer be able to catch up with them.
The driving force behind such a pivotal win? A historic eight-block output from sophomore middle blocker Em Banagua.
It marked the highest single-game blocking production in the league since former Ateneo captain Maddie Madayag dropped 11 on the black-and-gold in a five-set reverse-sweep win six years ago.
Angge Poyos was at her usual best with 19 points, nine digs, and five receptions ahead of Reg Jurado’s 13 attacks and Mabeth Hilongo’s eight points and 15 receptions.
Still leading by example was captain Detdet Pepito with a whopping 23 digs and eight receptions.
Season 87 playoff cast complete
Coming off a tough loss to now-eliminated State U before the Holy Week break, the Lady Spikers will be marching onto the semifinals for the 15th straight season.
Meanwhile, their Morayta counterparts — the league’s most decorated team — are heading to a second straight Final Four appearance and their seventh in their last nine campaigns.
A late surge of upset wins in the home stretchwon’t be enough to break UP’s seven-season Final Four drought. While they got the better of three Final Four-bound teams in National U, La Salle, and FEU, they just couldn't complete the quadruple against the Golden Tigresses.
Pacing the Fighting Maroons in the defeat was Nina Ytang with 16 points and a defensive double-double from winger Irah Jaboneta with 11 digs and 11 receptions.
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