Games on Friday(Rizal Memorial Coliseum)1 p.m. – EAC vs NU3:30 p.m. – La Salle vs Letran6 p.m. – Perpetual vs UST
UNTIRING University of Santo Tomas (UST) walloped Mapua University, 25-17, 25-17, 25-20, to stay perfect in the 2024 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Collegiate Pre-Season Championship on Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
It’s the second straight win in second straight day for the Tigresses after also trouncing Lyceum of the Philippines University, 25-16, 28-30, 25-17, 25-14 on Saturday.
Ace spiker Angge Poyos played only the first set as Kyla Cordora, Xyza Gula and Margaret Altea took the cudgels with nine, eight and seven points, respectively.
Eight more players racked up the scoring board for the Tigresses with setter Cassie Carballo orchestrating their attack in their third straight game overall after a championship run in V-League Women’s Collegiate Championship on Friday.
With Ms. Poyos clinching Tournament MVP and Ms. Carballo nabbing Finals MVP honor, Santo Tomas won its first title in any major league for the first time in 14 years and it’s eyeing the same in the SSL.
At 2-0 with a chance to close in on a sweep against University of Perpetual Help next week, the Tigresses are poised for a quarterfinal stint along with fellow unbeaten University of the East (3-0) in Pool B.
Meanwhile, University of the Philippines (1-1) registered its first win after taking down Colegio de San Juan de Letran, 17-25, 25-18, 25-18, 25-23, in Pool C.
Kassandra Doering had seven blocks for 16 points while Joan Monares and Niña Ytang had 11 and 10 points, respectively, for the Fighting Maroons in avenging their debut loss to De La Salle University. — John Bryan Ulanday