UST, CSB dispute Shakey’s NIV crown

MANILA, Philippines —  It will be the UAAP’s Santo Tomas versus the NCAA’s St. Benilde in the Shakey’s Collegiate National Invitationals title clash.

The Golden Tigresses swept the reigning NCAA champion Letran Lady Knights, 25-10, 25-19, 25-12, while the Lady Blazers downed Southern Storm Melbourne of Australia, 25-19, 25-23, 25-11, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The one-game final is set tomorrow at the same venue.

Team captain Regina Jurado led the way with 12 points on 11 attacks for the España-based spikers, who waxed hot early with a 15-point  runaway in the first set and never looked back.

“Gusto namin magpatuloy ‘yung success ng UST dito,” said Jurado, as Santo Tomas eyes a hat-trick of Shakey’s crowns after the Junior Golden Tigresses ruled the Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League (SGVIL) Rising Stars Cup and the just-concluded Juniors National Invitationals.

Marga Altea top-scored with 13 points built on four blocks, anchoring Santo Tomas’ defensive masterclass with 11 total rejections, while ace spiker Angge Poyos added 10.

Verenicce Colendra was the lone bright spot with seven points as no other player finished in double figures for the Lady Knights, who will go for the consolation bronze today against the loser of the other semifinal.

Meanwhile, Enderun Colleges drubbed Ho Chi Minh City Volleyball Club of Vietnam, 25-19, 25-17, 25-19, to salvage fifth place in the classification match of the breakthrough Shakey’s meet that featured foreign teams for the first time.