University of Santo Tomas rookie Angge Poyos sets her sights on a potential championship title as the Golden Tigresses kick off their Final Four campaign this weekend. 

The 20-year-old outside hitter steered the España-based squad past defending champion De La Salle Lady Spikers in four sets last April 27 to claim the last twice-to-beat berth. 

Following the highly-anticipated showdown, UST and La Salle settled for the second and third places, respectively, in the standings after the two-round elimination which set them up for a virtual best-of-three semifinal series. 

Poyos, who powered UST with 22 points built on 18 attacks, three blocks and one service ace past the comebacking Angel Canino-led La Salle, wound up with 290 points in the eliminations in her maiden season. 

The high numbers obviously drew MVP chants from the UST community as Poyos unveiled herself as a strong candidate for the highest honor. 

“Sobrang saya lang na nakuha namin ‘yung twice-to-beat advantage. Talagang nagtrabaho kaming lahat, pinagsikapan namin. Nangingibabaw ‘yung puso at tapang namin kaya nakuha ‘yung panalo,” Poyos said. 

“Kung may expectations man na makuha ko ‘yung award, bonus na lang siguro ‘yun. Basta ang importante sa akin ‘yung championship. ‘Yun talaga pinaka goal namin this season,” she noted.

“Thankful ako sa UST community nagsisigawan sila [to cheer me and the team on].”

Although Poyos missed one game in the second round against University of the Philippines last April 10 as she was feeling under the weather, the UST star still finished as the next best scorer behind fellow rookie Casiey Dongallo of University of the East, who made 291 points of her own. 

With the individual award farthest from her mind at this point of the season, Poyos is focused on helping UST as it gears up against a revenge-seeking La Salle side with Canino back in tow. 

A win for UST earns the squad an outright berth to the finals where it will be paired against the winner between top seed National University and Far Eastern University. 

Final Four begins on Saturday, May 4, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.