UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas (UST) and College of Saint Benilde (CSB) battle for supremacy in an exciting winner-take-all 2026 Shakey’s Collegiate National Invitationals (SCNI) title showdown on Sunday at the Playtime FilOil Arena in San Juan.
After a grueling race to the biggest stage, the unbeaten Golden Tigresses and the equally formidable Lady Blazers meet one last time for all the marbles at 4 p.m.
Meanwhile, Letran and Australian guest team Southern Storm Melbourne will be squaring off in the 2 p.m. battle for third to salvage a podium finish.
UST has its sights trained on completing an amazing sweep of the weeklong competition backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner and R&B Milk Tea.
The Tigresses booted out Letran, 25-10, 25-19, 25-12, in the knockout semifinals last Friday for their sixth straight win in as many starts and a breakthrough championship appearance.
UST’s highest result in the previous editions of the tournament supported by Jetour, Baic, Eurotel, Victory Liner Rent & Go, F2 Logistics, Summit Natural Drinking Water, PusoP.com and Smart Sports was a third-place finish in 2023.
Veterans Regina Jurado, Angge Poyos, Marga Altea and Avril Bron, alongside young guns Kim Rubin and Ashley Dianne Knop, banner the Shaq Delos Santos-mentored Tigresses, who are looking for a fitting follow-up to their high school counterpart’s Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League Rising Stars Cup and Juniors National Invitationals title conquests.
“We just also want to continue UST’s streak in the Shakey’s championship. I think that’s really our goal, too — to reach the finals this Sunday,” Jurado said.
UST defeated CSB, 25-22, 25-15, 15-25, 25-12, in their elimination round meeting last Monday.
On the other hand, the Lady Blazers are clinging to the momentum they built after their lone setback to pull off a shocker over the mighty Tigresses.
Behind the steady performances of Mary Grace Borromeo, rookie Mhonniecka Soliven, Camila Bartolome and Fionna Inocentes, CSB racked up four straight wins capped by a dominating 25-19, 25-23, 25-11 Final Four victory over Southern Storm.
