UST six makes SSL Final 4
MANILA, Philippines — Vengeful University of Santo Tomas fended off College of St. Benilde, 25-15, 25-16, 19-25, 32-30, in the thrilling knockout duel to catch the last bus to the Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Collegiate Pre-Season Championship Season 2 Final Four yesterday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
The Golden Tigresses wasted a huge lead in the fourth set but recovered behind the heroics of Regina Jurado, Jonna Perdido and Bianca Plaza for a sweet payback against the gritty Lady Blazers, who forced them to a quarterfinals rubbermatch with a five-set verdict in Game One.
UST, with a win-once bonus as the No. 2 seed, thus set a semifinal battle against Far Eastern U for a seat in the championship. The other semis pairing pits reigning champion National U and Adamson.
The Final Four will be played in a knockout format with the winners advancing to the best-of-three championship showdown starting on Friday at the same venue.
Jurado unloaded 16 points on 15 hits, an ace and a block, including a bevy of clutch hits in the fourth to show the way for UST. Perdido and Angeline Poyos added 16 and 15, respectively, while Plaza made her presence felt down the wire with four points that sealed it for UST.
“We’re a young team against a veteran St. Benilde squad na two-time NCAA champion. Nakita nyo kung gaano sila ka-solid, ayaw talaga bumitaw. Nanalo kami sa disgrasya. Nadisgrasya namin sila sa huling palo kasi lahat ng set-up at attacks at combination play namin, nakapag-adjust sila,” said UST mentor Kungfu Reyes.
