MANILA — University of Santo Tomas capped a flawless campaign in dramatic fashion, battling back from a five-point deficit in the deciding set to edge St. John’s Institute-Bacolod, 25-19, 25-23, 23-25, 18-25, 19-17, and capture the 2026 Shakey’s Juniors National Invitationals championship at the Playtime FilOil Arena in San Juan.
The Junior Tigresses completed an unbeaten 8-0 title run after surviving a fierce comeback by the Bacolod-based Falcons, who erased a two-set deficit and pushed the match to a thrilling fifth set before UST staged a remarkable rally from a 7-12 hole to clinch the championship.
Tournament Most Valuable Player Nicole Pelaez powered UST with 27 points built on 24 attacks, two blocks and one ace. Jyrah Romias added 17 points, while Anneli Manzanillo and Eliz Menchavez chipped in 14 and 13, respectively.
The triumph also completed a season sweep for the Junior Tigresses, who earlier captured the 2026 Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League Rising Stars Cup Division 1 title last May.
UST wiped out a five-point deficit in the deciding frame before both teams exchanged crucial points in a tense finish. St. John’s reached match point after a Pelaez service error, but the Falcons committed a costly service mistake to keep the Junior Tigresses alive.
Romias then hammered a down-the-line hit to give UST championship point, only for Caera Celis to answer and extend the contest. The Falcons fended off two more match points before Pelaez unleashed a clutch kill, while an attack error by Kristel Mirasol finally sealed the championship for UST.
“Ang turning point ay nu’ng 12-8 (sa fifth set). Nag-iba ang body language ng mga players namin. Pero ‘yun talaga sa fifth set kung sino ang mas gustong manalo at lalaban sa kanya mapupunta ang panalo,” said UST head coach Yani Fernandez.
St. John’s mounted a spirited fightback after dropping the opening two sets, stealing the third behind a late surge led by Celis before dominating the fourth through the combined efforts of Celis and Edz Escultura to force a winner-take-all fifth set.
Celis finished with a match-high 28 points, including 26 attacks, while Escultura contributed 14 points and Mirasol added 13 for the Falcons.
Earlier, Arellano University High School secured third place after defeating One La Salle, 19-25, 25-15, 25-20, 25-19. Cassandra Paralejas paced the Lady Braves with 22 points, highlighted by 21 kills./PN
