San Sebastian College-Recoletos pulled off a stunning reverse sweep over Ateneo de Manila University, 19-25, 20-25, 25-17, 25-20, 15-8, to end the 2025 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Preseason Unity Cup on a high note on Friday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
The Lady Stags finished with a 1-2 win-loss record in Pool D, tying with the Blue Eagles. Howaever, Ateneo claimed the final ticket to the second round with a 4-2 match points advantage over SSC-R.
Graduating winger Kath Santos scored 20 of her 21 points from kills in her last game as a Lady Stag in the tournament, supported by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner, and R and B Milk Tea.
“‘Di namin ini-expect itong panalo sa game na ‘to. Talagang in-effortan namin ‘yung game namin ngayon, nagtulong-tulong kami. Natalo kami ng dalawang set pero sinabi ni coach Clint (Malazo) na i-enjoy namin ang game na ito,” said Santos, who added 10 points in the fourth set.
San Sebastian carried the momentum from its third and fourth set wins into the deciding frame, racing to a comfortable 10-4 lead capped by Juna Gonzales’ back-to-back hits.
(C) Roman Prospero/SSL
A service error by Ana Hermosura extended the Lady Stags’ lead to 13-6 before May Tsunashima delivered consecutive kills to keep the Blue Eagles alive. Santos responded with a timely hit before Tsunashima committed the final error of Ateneo’s 34 mistakes, sending the two-hour, two-minute match to its conclusion.
Hermosura finished with 15 points while Faye Nisperos added 13 for Ateneo, who will face Adamson University to open their single round-robin second-round campaign in Pool E on Sunday.
(C) Roman Prospero/SSL
In the earlier match, University of the Philippines completed a three-game sweep of Pool C with a dominant 25-22, 25-18, 25-19 win over a listless Letran squad.
Casiey Dongallo led the Fighting Maroons off the bench with nine points in the final preliminary round, with support from technical partners Asics, Mikasa, Smart Sports, Summit, Team Rebel Sports, Belo Deo, Eurotel-Apo View Hotel, Batangas Country Club, Executive Optical, Baic Auto Philippines, SM Tickets, and PusoP.com.
Yesha Noceja added seven markers, while Sarah Ali, Bienne Bansil, and Jelai Gajero contributed six points each, highlighting UP’s balanced offense.
The Lady Knights ended their campaign winless in three outings, with Judiel Nitura and Jogi Maquillang posting nine and eight points, respectively.
(C) Roman Prospero/SSL
In the third game, unbeaten four-peat-seeking National University primed up for the second round with a 25-13, 25-15, 25-21, clobbering of Lyceum of the Philippines University.
Kaye Bombita, Vange Alinsug and Chams Maaya fired eight points apiece in leading the Lady Bulldogs to a three-game sweep of Pool A.
NU and Adamson University, the National Invitationals Davao Leg and Cebu Leg winners, respectively, clash on Saturday to open the second round.
The Lady Pirates ended their run with a 1-2 card.
Meanwhile, second-round-bound Far Eastern University and Adamson University forfeited their Pool B match due to also playing in the 2025 V-League Collegiate Challenge.
Both squads had won their first two games without dropping a set, but the Lady Tamaraws clinched the top seed in the pool via a higher point quotient.
Saturday’s second-round matches feature University of Santo Tomas, which swept Mapua University 25-19, 25-17, 25-22 on Thursday, taking on FEU at 4 p.m., while unbeaten College of Saint Benilde faces San Beda University at 2 p.m. in Pool F.
Undefeated, four-peat-seeking National University will clash with Adamson in Pool E at 12 p.m.
The top two squads after the second round will enjoy a twice-to-beat advantage in the crossover quarterfinals.
All SSL Preseason Unity Cup games are available live and on demand via PusoP.com and Solar Sports.
