UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas defied all the tremendous odds to become the second-best team in the UAAP women’s volleyball eliminations.

Despite losing vital cogs Eya Laure, Imee Hernandez and Milena Alessandrini, the Tigresses won 12 matches and moved on the cusp of advancing to the Finals for the first time since 2019 by bagging the twice-to-beat bonus in the Final Four.

Drawing energy from a yellow-clad audience that was part of the 14,939-strong crowd at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Saturday, University of Santo Tomas reasserted its mastery of La Salle, 22-25, 25-23, 25-16, 25-15, to finish tied with National University in first place.

The Tigresses, who will meet the Lady Spikers anew in the Final Four this weekend, are level with the Lady Bulldogs at 12-2, but the Bustillos-based side had superior match points, 36-34, to claim the No. 1 ranking.

NU and fourth-ranked Far Eastern University duke it out in the other pairing.

“Kinocongratulate ko itong mga player namin na talagang nagtatrabaho para sa UST,” said coach Kungfu Reyes.

“Maganda ito pagpasok ng top four kasi nga malaking malaking panalo yung nangyari ngayong gabi, nakuha namin yung ini-aim namin na hindi lang basta makapasok ng Final Four but magkaroon kami ng twice-to-beat advantage,” he added.

Third-year captain-libero Det Pepito, who took over the leadership following the departure of Laure and company, was elated to see the Tigresses perform well despite having height disadvantage and a bevy of sophomores and rookies who displayed tremendous heart in the game.

“Proud kasi as a young team, talagang hindi namin inexpect na mapupunta kami sa ganitong sitwasyon,” said Pepito.

“Ayun, since nandito na nga, sinasabi ko sa kanila na iembrace na natin, ipanalo na natin,” she added.

UST last won the championship in the women’s division in 2010 backstopped by Rhea Dimaculangan, Ange Tabaquero and Aiza Maizo with Shaq delos Santos manning the sidelines.

Delos Santos returned to the Tigresses as part of Reyes’ coaching staff.

UST reached the league’s biggest stage in 2019, having defeated La Salle in the Final Four, but despite having the prolific duo of Laure and Sisi Rondina, the España-based squad was swept by Ateneo.

“Yes kasi yun nga, yung component ng team na ito kakaiba eh puro bata so kung titingnan natin, medyo less experience pa pero alam niyo yun, dito talaga makikita na nagbubunga talaga yung mga pinaghirapan namin sa training,” said Pepito, who collected 17 digs and six receptions against the defending champions.

“Yes, masasabi ko po this is the best chance talaga maibalik ang crown.”

Pepito knows that the Final Four is a whole different animal, reminding the Tigresses to never let their guard down against a tough Lady Spikers side.

“Hindi talaga pwedeng magcelebrate nang todo-todo. Back to trabaho talaga kami and another challenge na naman ito na syempre kailangan namin iembrace,” said Pepito.

Jonna Perdido, who also shone for UST with 19 points to back up Angge Poyos’ 22-point outing, is bracing for what lies ahead, especially that La Salle will not yield the crown on a silver platter.

“Para sa akin challenging po sila makalaban kasi nga po defending champion. Yung mindset ko lang is mag-trabaho kasi kailangan ng team and ‘yun po nag-bunga naman and super proud sa teammates,” Perdido said.

“Siguro po sa next laban namin is kailangan pa rin namin maging matapang sa laro and kailangan namin mag-communicate inside the court kasi ‘yun yung unang-una na kailangan namin—mag-communicate talaga,” she added.

Last year’s MVP Canino, in her return after missing five matches, scored seven of her 13 points in the first set but struggled in the next three.

Shevana Laput carried the fight for La Salle with 26 points on 23-of-48 attacks and two service aces.

The Lady Spikers were also facing twice-to-beat disadvantage five years ago, losing to the Tigresses in a playoff for No. 2 before eventually getting eliminated in one game.