UST, USPF keep quarterfinal bids alive in Shakey's volleyball

MANILA – University of Santo Tomas kept its quarterfinal bid alive with a 25-17, 25-18, 28-30, 25-14 victory over debuting Team Soccsksargen in Pool B of the 2024 Shakey's Super League (SSL) National Invitationals at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Thursday.

Marga Altea delivered 11 attacks, five blocks and an ace for the UAAP Season 86 runner-up Lady Tigresses, who absorbed a 16-25, 26-28, 25-17, 25-17, 16-18, loss to the University of Batangas Lady Brahmans last Wednesday.

Abigail Sinson contributed 13 points, including an ace that gave UST a commanding 21-12 lead in the fourth set, while Kaizah Huyno added 11 points, four at the service line.

"Madami pa po kaming dapat na i-improve lalo na po 'yung communication namin. As bago na team, super hirap sa amin lahat kasi coming from different schools and regions, lima lang kaming core ng UST GVT (girls volleyball team) kaya super hirap na i-pull lahat kami together. Pero nagagawan naman po namin ng paraan and sana magtuluy-tuloy ang ganito (We still have a lot to improve on, especially our communication. As a new team, it's super hard for all of us because coming from different schools and regions, we only have five core members of the UST GVT so it's super hard to pull us all together. But we were able to find a way and I hope this will continue)," said Altea after the match.

Janelle Maignos finished with 16 points, Tresha Parong had seven, while Shendy Acebo chipped in six points for Team Soccsksargen, a selection from Southern Mindanao.

Meanwhile, University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) defeated Lyceum of the Philippines University, 25-19, 17-25, 25-23, 25-19, in Pool C.

Ressel Pedroza scored 15 points for the Lady Panthers, who bowed to the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws, 13-25, 15-25, 17-25.

USPF, reigning Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) champion, will advance to the quarterfinals if FEU wins over Lyceum on Friday.

The tournament format calls for all teams playing in a single round-robin group stage where the top two teams in each pool will advance to the crossover knockout quarterfinals. The semifinals will also be played in a do-or-die affair.

The gold medal and the bronze medal matches are both best-of-three series. In case the title showdown ends in two games, and the battle for third is tied after Game 2, the bronze medal winner will be decided via FIVB tiebreak. (PNA)