History repeated itself for the University of Santo Tomas.
Just like they did five years ago, the second-seeded Golden Tigresses dethroned the third-ranked De La Salle University Lady Spikers in a five-set showdown, 25-20, 16-25, 25-20, 19-25, 15-7, to secure the first seat in the UAAP Season 86 Women’s Volleyball Finals, witnessed by 19,505 fans inside the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
This marks UST’s first appearance in the championship series since Season 81 when they eventually settled for silver against Ateneo de Manila University.
To reach the Finals, the Golden Tigresses defeated the Lady Spikers in five sets on May 5, 2019, 25-19, 25-19, 20-25, 23-25, 15-10.
UST will await the winner between National University and Far Eastern University.
De La Salle was motivated to extend it to a do-or-die series after capturing the fourth set, 25-19.
However, UST killed the Lady Spikers’ fire right away in the fifth.
Knotted at 3 in the deciding frame, Angge Poyos, Cassie Carballo, and Em Banagua put the Golden Tigresses out of reach with six straight points for a 9-3 advantage.
Although Shevana Laput and Amie Provido tried to fight back for De La Salle, Jonna Perdido countered it while Carballo made the final nail in the coffin with a service ace right in the middle of the Lady Spikers for the finals-sealing win in two hours and 52 minutes.
Laput, the 6-foot-1 sophomore opposite hitter, led the Lady Spikers once more with 20 points while Thea Gagate left it all on the court in her final game in a La Salle jersey, logging 16 points including six blocks.
Angel Canino, who played in her second game after missing five matches, ended up with 14 points, 12 digs, and eight receptions. Jyne Soreño, who also missed some time, provided 11 points off the bench as well.