MANILA — University of Santo Tomas and Adamson University booked a championship collision in the 2026 V-League Collegiate Challenge after completing straight-set sweeps of their respective semifinal rivals at the Playtims FilOil Centre in San Juan.
The Golden Tigresses punched the first ticket to the best-of-three Finals with a dominant 25-16, 25-21, 25-15 dismissal of Arellano University before the Lady Falcons followed suit with a 25-21, 25-17, 25-20 victory over University of the East.
Game 1 of the championship series is set Wednesday, Oct. 7, at the same venue.
UST leaned on captain Regina Jurado and a strong net defense to overwhelm Arellano, particularly in the third set when the Golden Tigresses quickly seized control.
Setter Cassie Carballo delivered a net kill that pushed UST ahead, 8-2, before Marga Altea rattled off three consecutive points midway through the frame to widen the gap to 16-9.
Jurado spearheaded the Golden Tigresses with 19 points built on 16 attacks, one block and two aces while also collecting five digs.
Altea and Angeline Poyos chipped in 13 points apiece as UST completed the sweep and advanced to the championship round following an uneven elimination campaign.
“Siyempre, happy kami (to reach the Finals), especially yung mga players kasi nga medyo shaky kami buong eliminations. Pero good thing na nakapag-perform kami nang maayos. Not enough do’n sa gusto naming mangyari, but good sign siya na may future ‘yung team,” UST head coach Shaq Delos Santos said.
Delos Santos said the Golden Tigresses will need sharper execution and greater resolve against Adamson with the V-League championship at stake.
“Dapat maging precise ‘yung galaw namin sa lahat ng aspects. And hopefully ‘yung tapang. Sabi nga namin, binibigay namin every day ‘yung maibibigay namin sa skills. Yung talent andiyan, pero ‘yung tapang, sipag, ‘yung dedication, dapat manggagaling sa kanila,” he added.
Arellano struggled to mount a sustained offensive challenge, with Keisha Abitria leading the Lady Chiefs with nine points off the bench.
Cris Servidad was limited to seven points, while Catherine Chu finished with four./PN
