Now the tournament’s streak busters, University of Santo Tomas hopes to secure the second spot in the UAAP women’s volleyball rankings.

The UST Golden Tigresses continue to impress after slaying the DLSU Lady Spikers. (UAAP Media)

After staging a four-set win over the league-leading De La Salle Lady Spikers on April 2 to end their perfect nine-game winning run, the Golden Tigresses are now bracing for their last four games in the second round eliminations.

With the win, UST brought back the Final Four format in the league after averting a La Salle two-round elimination sweep, which was exactly what the defending champion National University Lady Bulldogs pulled off last season all the way to their championship title.

The Golden Tigresses hold a 7-3 record in third place behind the Adamson Lady Falcons with their 7-2 card.

“Ang pinaka goal kasi namin is hindi lang sa top four. Target namin top two or three. So talagang crucial siya para sa amin. And sana, unlike noong Round 1 na panalo namin against NU, hindi namin nadala iyong momentum sa Adamson game [where we lost]. Kaya naman talagang mas mag triple effort sa training,” said libero Bernadette Pepito who tallied 25 excellent receptions and 11 digs.

After putting a similar end to NU’s 20-game winning streak in a five-set thriller last March 4 in the first round, UST couldn’t ride the momentum against Adamson a few days later where it lost in straight sets.

“Malaking bagay to para sa amin kasi iyong ranking. Kasi ‘yong number three and four halos magkadikit kami talaga. So itong panalo na to magiging deciding factor kahit papaano in the middle ng tournament na andoon kami sa 1, 2, 3, 4. Tapos may pondo kami na mga panalo, so malaking bagay,” said UST head coach Kung Fu Reyes.

“Kasi hindi biro kalaban si La Salle. Nagkaroon man sila ng guhit. Pagtitingnan mo standing, sila pa rin iyong nasa number one. So, iyon pa rin. Natalo man sila, still sila pa rin iyong number one sa second round. Sa amin naman siyempre naghahanap kami ng panalo. Luckily, tumama naman iyong mga galaw namin. Though dami pa rin dapat i-correct. Ibabalik lang ulit namin sa training,” he added.

With veterans Eya Laure and the returning Milena Alessandrini taking turns with the scoring cudgels with 29 and 20 points, respectively, in the big win, UST hopes to be armed with a twice-to-beat advantage come the playoffs.

The Golden Tigresses were booted out of the stepladder semifinals in Season 84 where they fell to the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the one-game playoff.

With a longer preparation due to the Holy Week break, UST will stand with a boosted morale when it takes on last season’s tormentor Ateneo on April 15.

“Siguro makakapag-reflect mga players sa mga nangyari after the big win tapos baba kami ng performance. This time kung babalikan nila ‘yong mga ganoong pangyayari doon kami nahugot ngayon. Galing kami sa big win bakit matatalo kami siguro hindi ko masabi na nagiging relax kasi tina-trabaho naman namin,” said Reyes.

“This time mahaba preparation namin magkakaroon sila ng break with their families, siguro mas maiiwasan namin to pagbalik namin ng April 15,” he added.