National University–Nazareth School booked its ninth straight Finals appearance in the UAAP High School Girls’ Volleyball Tournament after grinding out a 33-31, 25-22, 20-25, 25-18 victory over rival University of Santo Tomas on Saturday at the Ateneo Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City.
The top-seeded Lady Bullpups didn’t need their twice-to-beat advantage to secure a shot at back-to-back titles and their seventh championship in the last nine seasons.
NUNS now awaits the winner of the other bracket, after Far Eastern University–Diliman stunned No. 2 Adamson University in a five-set thriller, 25-22, 18-25, 23-25, 27-25, 15-7, to force a sudden-death match on Monday.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
The Lady Bullpups relied heavily on their wing spikers, who came alive during the decisive push in the fourth set.
With UST’s Junior Golden Tigresses Kim Rubin and Nicole Pelaez constantly applying pressure, Diza Berayo stepped up and delivered three crucial kills — including back-to-back attacks that closed out the match after two hours and 13 minutes.
“Ang mindset kasi namin going into this game is parang championship game na ‘to sa ’min, do-or-die na,” said Lady Bullpups head coach Karl Dimaculangan.
“Siguro naging malaking bagay ‘yung gano’ng mindset, tulad nga nung first set nilaban nila. ‘Yun ‘yung pinakaimportante siguro.”
Berayo, who previously suited up for the Alas Girls in the Asian Youth Games in Bahrain, was contained for most of the match by the UST defense, leaving much of the scoring load early to Slash Obera and Akela Bartolabac.
Still, she took over when it counted, finishing with a triple-double—20 points, 14 digs, and 18 excellent receptions—to send NUNS back to familiar territory: the Finals.
Bartolabac contributed 17 points and 16 excellent receptions, while Obera chipped in 12 markers.
Playmaker Micaella Gould provided steady orchestration off the bench with 10 excellent sets and two points, while libero Atasha Doroja anchored the floor defense with 16 digs to help NUNS control transition points.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Rubin shone in her final high school match for UST, firing 20 points built on 18 attacks and two service aces. Pelaez matched her output with 20 markers to show the program remains in capable hands.
In the other semifinal, Nigerian reinforcement MJ Udeagbala answered every challenge from Adamson to keep third-seeded FEU–Diliman’s season alive after a grueling two-hour and 15-minute showdown.
Ellaine Gonzalvo erupted for Adamson in the fourth set with a Finals berth within reach, but Udeagbala proved steadier, capping the frame with three straight attacks.
Team captain Cathlyn Umal then followed her opposite hitter’s lead, delivering two huge blocks on Gonzalvo and Rhee Anne Castro in the fifth set to push FEU-D to match point. A Gonzalvo attack error eventually forced a deciding game.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Udeagbala exploded for 34 points—29 coming off attacks—as the Lady Baby Tamaraws defeated the Lady Baby Falcons for the first time since Season 79 (2016).
Umal added 11 points, highlighted by eight of the team’s 15 total blocks, while Aleah Devosora and Joeyana Bongo chipped in eight points each.
FEU-D is aiming for its first-ever Finals appearance in the girls’ division.
Gonzalvo led Adamson with 21 points—all from spikes—while Francheska Adem and Kristal Joy Martin contributed 14 markers apiece.
