MANILA, Philippines — Undefeated University of Santo Tomas stormed to the championship round after a 25-10, 25-19, 25-12, bludgeoning of Letran in the knockout semifinals of the 2026 Shakey’s Collegiate National Invitationals on Friday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Save for some resistance they encountered in the second set, the Golden Tigresses snatched their sixth win in as many games with relative ease for a shot at a breakthrough crown.
UST will challenge in the winner-take-all championship on Sunday at the Playtime FilOil Arena in San Juan, the survivor between Australian squad Southern Storm Melbourne and College of Saint Benilde in the other Final Four showdown, which is still being played as of press time.
Team captain Regina Jurado smashed 11 of her 12 points on attacks and added three digs to lead the Espana-based squad, which hammered the Lady Knights with 32 kills.
"I don't let the pressure of the underline (team captain uniform mark) get to me. I can play my game freely with the team," said Jurado, who alongside Angge Poyos sat out the Tigresses' final elimination round game on Thursday.
"We want UST's success to continue here," she added as UST looks for a fitting follow-up to its high school team’s Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League Rising Stars Cup and Juniors National Invitationals conquests.
Marga Altea led UST’s block party as the Golden Tigresses scored 11 kill blocks to frustrate Letran.
Altea had four kill blocks to go with nine kills to finish with 13 points while Poyos scored 10 in the penultimate playdate of the tournament backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner, and R and B Milk Tea.
The Tigresses uncorked a 9-2 blast to turn a slim 11-8 lead in the third set into a 20-10 advantage. Jurado scored off a kill to give UST a 22-11 lead.
Leonilyn Padilla answered for Letran before the Tigresses scored the match’s closing three points, capped by the Lady Knights’ last of 27 errors. No Letran player reached double-figure scoring, with main gunner Verenicce Colendra limited to only seven points. Reeza Abayon added five for the Lady Knights, who will try to salvage a podium finish on Sunday. Meanwhile, Enderun Colleges swept Ho Chi Minh City Volleyball Club, 25-19, 25-17, 25-19, to finish fifth in the tournament supported by Jetour, Baic, Eurotel, Victory Liner Rent & Go, F2 Logistics, Summit Natural Drinking Water, PusoP.com and Smart Sports.
The Lady Titans wasted no time disposing of the Vietnamese guest team in the classification round to close their campaign on a winning note.
Jasmine Salvani led Enderun’s assault by pounding 10 kills and landing five aces in a 15-point outing while Althea Botor added 13 markers on 13 spikes and two aces. Fatima Medina scored eight for the Lady Titans, who punished Ho Chi Minh City’s spotty service reception with 10 aces.
Enderun repeated over the listless Vietnam club after sweeping the visiting side in the elimination round.
Ho Chi Minh City dropped all of its six outings in the competition. Le Thi Diem Phuong was the lone Vietnamese in double figures with 16 markers.
All games in the competition, backed by technical partners Philippine Sports Commission, Commission on Higher Education, Mikasa, Asics, Rigour Technology and Team Rebel Sports, are available live and on-demand via PusoP.com livestream and Solar Sports. TMT
