UST stays hot, pips Saint Benilde
MARGA Altea hammers a kill en route to leading UST to a 25-22, 25-15, 15-25, 25-12 win over Saint Benilde in the 2026 Shakey’s Collegiate National Invitationals.
Photograph courtesy of SSL
MARGA Altea hammers a kill en route to leading UST to a 25-22, 25-15, 15-25, 25-12 win over Saint Benilde in the 2026 Shakey’s Collegiate National Invitationals.
Photograph courtesy of SSL
University of Santo Tomas (UST) charged back mightily in the fourth frame after a third-set meltdown to finish off College of Saint Benilde, 25-22, 25-15, 15-25, 25-12, for a second straight win in the 2026 Shakey’s Collegiate National Invitationals on Monday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Veterans Angge Poyos, Marga Altea and Avril Bron restored order in the fourth set after the Golden Tigresses’ second and third stringers failed to deliver in the previous frame for the Shaq Delos Santos-mentored squad.
Poyos hammered down 14 of her 15 points on attacks while adding seven digs and four excellent receptions to power the Tigresses to a firmer hold of the lead in the competition backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner and R and B Milk Tea.
Altea bucked a sluggish opening set and scored seven of her 10 points in the fourth while Bron chipped in 10 markers for UST, which took the win despite committing 29 errors.
“It feels overwhelming because I just gave my best to bounce back, especially coming off a first set where I was a bit off. I just did my absolute best when I was brought back in during the fourth set,” said Altea, who took over the offense in the fourth set as UST wrapped up the match in one hour and 45 minutes.
The Tigresses’ struggles in the third frame extended early into the fourth as they trailed, 2-4.
Altea ignited a decisive 6-0 blast with three consecutive aces as UST gained control of the set. The Tigresses widened the gap 21-10 before Altea, Bron and Poyos delivered the finishing blows in a 4-2 closing run.
UST tweaked its rotation in the third set but it backfired as CSB turned a 2-6 deficit into a 20-10 advantage after mounting a telling rally on its way to averting a shutout.
The Tigresses, who swept Enderun Colleges in the opener on Sunday, take on Letran on Tuesday.
The Lady Blazers failed to capitalize on the momentum of their sweep of Vietnamese guest team Ho Chi Minh City Volleyball Club last Sunday to slide to a 1-1 win-loss card in the competition.
Mary Grace Borromeo had 12 points on 10 spikes and two kill blocks to pace Saint Benilde while Mhonniecka Joyce Soliven added 12 markers and Camila Bartolome had eight in a losing effort.
The Lady Blazers seek to rebound against Enderun on Tuesday.
