Tigresses oust Lady Tamaraws to catch semis bus

UST’s Angge Poyos (17)

(UAAP Media Bureau)

MANILA, Philippines — The Final Four cast is set.

University of Santo Tomas shrugged off a sluggish start to maul the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws, 16-25, 25-20, 25-18, 25-16 in their playoff for No. 4 matchup in the UAAP Seasons 88 women's volleyball tourney Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Golden Tigresses thus booted FEU out of contention and ended their season.

“Sobrang proud sa team and happy din kasi alam naman namin lahat kung ano yung mga pinagdaanan namin,” UST head coach Shaq delos Santos said after the match.

“At least na nakakasurvive kami and I'm sure mas magiging eager yung team especially pagdating nung step ladder.”

Angge Poyos powered UST with 26 points on 22 attacks and four blocks. Reg Jurado chipped in 11 markers, while Xyza Gula had nine.

Cassie Carballo tossed up 21 excellent sets in the win that finalized UST’s sixth straight Final Four appearance.

FEU had a strong start, going up by 11, 21-10, after a Faida Bakanke attack en route to a 25-16 first set.

But the Tigresses found their bearings, turning things around in the second set to tie things up at one set apiece.

In the third set, UST trailed by one, 7-8, but it took just a matter of time to break the set open, going up 19-12.

FEU tried to storm back, but a Poyos kill gave the Tigresses a 25-18 win.

And with UST holding the momentum, they bared their fangs and clawed their way to the Final Four.

The Espana-based squad will be facing the Adamson Lady Falcons in the stepladder semifinals.

The winner between the two squads will take on the three-peat-seeking National University Lady Bulldogs.

The La Salle Lady Spikers are already waiting in the finals as they swept the elimination round.

Gerzel Petallo led the charge for FEU with 14 points on nine points and five blocks. Cla Loresco backstopped with 11, while Faida Bakanke and Jaz Ellarina had nine each.

Tin Ubaldo tossed up 15 excellent sets and had three points in her final collegiate game.

The start of the Final Four is set on Wednesday at the same venue.