UNIVERSITY of Sto Tomas sustained its fine play, scoring a 25-14, 25-23, 23-25, 25-19 victory over a struggling La Salle squad in the playoff for the No. 2 spot on Wednesday at the Arena in San Juan.
Sisi Rondina and Eya Laure lifted UST to its first top-two finish in eight years.
The Tigresses again face the Lady Spikers, who slipped to No. 3, in the Final Four on Sunday.
Top-seeded Ateneo, which finished with a 12-2 win-loss record, faces No. 4 Far Eastern University, which had a 9-5 mark, in the other semifinal showdown.
The Lady Spikers, eyeing a fourth straight title, lost to FEU in the final match of the eliminations, giving UST a share of the No. 2 spot and forging the playoff for the twice-to-beat advantage in the semifinals.
It is the first time in 11 years that La Salle will enter the semifinals without a twice-to-beat advantage.
Rondina had 29 points, while Laure put up 17 points off 15 kills.
“Maganda ’yung experience na sa sobrang tagal ng panahon ganoon pala ang experience ng may playoff,” said UST head coach Kungfu Reyes. “Masarap na yung pakiramdam na naglalaro ka pero mas masarap kung nanalo ka doon sa game. Luckily kami ang nanalo.”
Rookie Jolina Dela Cruz was as the lone Lady Spiker to score in double figures, finising with 12 points.
Des Cheng and May Luna had nine points each, while Lourdes Clemente and Aduke Ogunsanya added seven markers apiece.
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