Final Four within reach of Tigresses

MANILA, Philippines — University of Santo Tomas made quick work of University of the East, 25-19, 25-16, 25-15, to move closer to a fifth straight UAAP women’s volleyball Final Four stint yesterday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Behind Season 86 Rookie of the Year Angge Poyos and plug in Kyla Cordora, the Golden Tigresses clinched their third straight win to hike their record to 8-4.

The Golden Tigresses also eliminated the Adamson University Lady Falcons in the process.

Santo Tomas can grab a seat in the Final Four should University of the Philippines fall to De La Salle U today. However, should the Fighting Maroons stun the Lady Spikers, the Golden Tigresses will have to win their second-round match-up against UP on Wednesday to clinch a postseason ticket.

Ranged against a Lady Warriors side desperate for a first win, the Tigresses went into full throttle and gave coach Kungfu Reyes the luxury of giving other players court time.

“First, syempre ‘yung respeto sa team ng UE nandoon naman kaya pinaghandaan talaga namin. Ang maganda rito, nabigyan namin ng exposure ‘yung ibang players namin at nakapag-deliver naman. Hopefully, magamit nila itong game na ito para sa next games namin,” Reyes said.

Shaina Nitura, the rookie phenom from Adamson U, shattered the league’s single-season scoring record with a jaw-dropping 37-point explosion and led the Lady Falcons past Far Eastern U, 14-25, 29-27, 25-22, 25-22.

Despite their Final Four hopes quashed following UST’s win over UE, the Lady Falcons refused to back down and improved their record to 5-7.

The Lady Tamaraws’s Final Four bid was stalled at 8-5.

The Lady Warriors showed signs of competitiveness in the third set by narrowing the gap to 10-7, but the Golden Tigresses responded with a dominant 6-1 run to build a 16-8 cushion.

That was all UST needed as the Golden Tigresses’ 10th consecutive win over the Lady Warriors since Season 81 in 2019.