UST takes down UP to return to the UAAP win column

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Tigresses bucked a sloppy start and scored a reverse sweep over the University of the Philippines (UP), 16-25, 25-13, 25-19, 25-20, in the ongoing UAAP Season 88 Women’s Volleyball Tournament on March 11, 2026, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

Eager to redeem themselves after a disappointing 0-3 loss at the hands of the Adamson Soaring Falcons last week, the Golden Tigresses had to get through the grinder after unforced errors kept them from achieving their dream start against UP.

A shaky offensive showing from UST allowed the Fighting Maroons to establish an early commanding lead, marked by several defensive miscues, especially during the final stretch when the Golden Tigresses attempted to inch closer by as much as two points.

UP found the golden opportunity to strike following back-to-back failed backline receives from UST, which then saw its four-point lead balloon to six, en route to a one-sided first-set beating.

Just when the Fighting Maroons thought they could sustain their momentum, the Golden Tigresses finally roared back, shrugging off their first-set woes with much-needed two-way efficiency courtesy of Angge Poyos and Regina Jurado’s offensive resurgence.

Poyos kicked off UST’s come-from-behind rally with a rejuvenated scoring clinic, shouldering the Golden Tigresses’ first five points to set the tone for the second-set masterclass.

Picking up where Poyos left off, Jurado rained down on UP’s weakened middle defense with her deceptive lefty spikes.

It was all that UST needed to recover, with Poyos and Jurado stepping up when the Golden Tigresses needed them most, and with Detdet Pepito’s floor defense limiting UP to its lowest-scoring set of the match in the second, with only 13 points.

From that point, UST just took off and handed UP back-to-back disappointing losses in the last two sets while also receiving an additional boost from Jonna Perdido and rookie Julia Balingit.

Poyos showcased another lights-out scoring performance, spearheading UST’s victory with 24 points on 20 successful attacks, alongside eight excellent receptions and five excellent digs.

Jurado, who backstopped Poyos midway through the second set, delivered 16 markers built on 15 successful attacks, while Perdido added 12 points.

The Golden Tigresses will look to end the first round of eliminations on a high note on March 14, 2026, against the Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws, while UP seeks to rebound on March 15, 2026, against Adamson.