Santo Tomas, National renew volley title duel

MANILA, Philippines - University of Santo Tomas and National University beat their respective Final Four rivals to seal a rematch for the girls’ volleyball crown in the UAAP Season 77 at the Adamson University gym yesterday.

With Eya Laure leading the way, the Junior Tigresses downed the La Salle-Zobel spikers, 25-10, 22-25, 25-23, 25-18, while the Junior Lady Bulldogs overcame a gritty Adamson University side, 25-10, 25-22, 18-25, 25-23.

Laure, the younger sister of Season 76 MVP EJ who is now in the college ranks, set up crucial plays for Jasmine Nabor and Jennifer Nieva to help UST gain a crack at another championship.

The Junior Tigresses beat the Junior Lady Bulldogs in three games last season. The two squads will face off in a best-of-three series starting next week.

In the boy’s stepladder semifinals, Ateneo eliminated UST, 25-22, 25-18, 25-17, to forge a showdown with twice-to-beat NU.

University of the East, which is seeking an 11th straight title, swept the double-round elims to reach the finals.