UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas banked on its young guns to outlast University of the Philippines in an exciting five-set marathon, 27-25, 26-28, 25-18, 22-25, 17-15, to advance to the semifinals of the Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Pre-season Championship at the Rizal Coliseum late Sunday.

The Tigresses completed an all-UAAP Final Four cast along with unbeaten National University, Adamson University, and De La Salle University.

UST set up an exciting semis showdown against the reigning UAAP champions Lady Bulldogs that have yet to drop a game after six matches.

The knockout semifinals of the tournament organized by Athletic Events and Sports Management, Inc. (ACES) is scheduled on Friday, Nov.11, while the winner-take-all championship is on Nov. 19.

Earlier, NU booked the first semis ticket after sweeping Far Eastern University, 25-10, 25-17, 25-15; Adamson booted out University of Perpetual Help, 25-14, 25-16, 25-16; while La Salle decimated Ateneo de Manila University, 25-17, 25-23, 25-10, to take the first three semis seats.

UST freshmen Xyza Gula and Regina Jurado stepped up in the absence of veteran, Eya Laure, to deliver 20 points apiece.

The duo delivered the back-to-back hits that wrapped up the grueling two-hour, 50-minute encounter.

“We just held on, did our best and refused to give up,” said Gula, who pounded 17 attack points including the down the line kill that pushed UST to its third matchpoint advantage.

“We just want to prove that we’re not just rookies but super rookies. That we won’t back down from anuy challenge,” she added.

Angeli Abellana put the Tigresses at first matchpoint advantage, 14-12, but a catch-and-throw violation of UST in the next play followed by a kill block by Fighting Maroon Ethan Arce on Gula forced a deuce.

Gula answered with a down the line hit but UP captain Jewel Encarnacion knotted the score at 15 with a through the block smash.

Gula again hammered a kill from the left side before Jurado nailed the piercing crosscourt hit from the right corner for the finishing blow.

Abellana posted 16 points while Athena Abbu had 10 markers for the Tigresses.

Alyssa Bertolano led UP with 18 points including 14 attacks, Joan Monares had 14 markers while Encarnacion finished with 10.

The Fighting Maroons slid to the classification round joining Perpetual, Ateneo, and FEU.

Earlier Sunday, La Salle University grabbed a semifinals seat after a clinical dismantling of archrival Ateneo, 25-17, 25-23, 25-10,.

Rookie Angel Canino showed the way for the Lady Spikers, blasting 19 points including the finishing blows to close all three sets.

La Salle’s victory set up a collision course with its second round tormentor Adamson University, which earlier booked a ticket to the knockout Final Four with a 25-14, 25-16, 25-16 drubbing of University of Perpetual Help.

“I just reminded them after our loss to Adamson last night to play with pride,” said Lady Spikers coach Noel Orcullo.