University of the East salvaged a podium finish in the 2026 V-League Collegiate Challenge, outlasting Arellano University, 25-23, 25-22, 28-26, to claim the bronze medal on Wednesday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
The Lady Warriors survived a tense battle with the Lady Chiefs, bouncing back from their semifinal loss to Adamson University that kept them out of the championship match.
UE leaned on Janessa Buhay, who erupted for 27 points built on 25 attacks and two aces while adding 17 excellent receptions in the one-hour, 37-minute contest.
“Masaya kami dahil sabi nga namin, thankful kami kay V-League na binigyan kami ng opportunity na makasali,” said Lady Warriors assistant coach Jerome Guhit. “Sabi nga, kukuha kami ng experience na kailangan namin kasi ang daming bata (sa team) eh.”
“Malaking bagay kasi nga kulang sa experience, tapos makaka-medal ka, parang pampataas ng kumpyansa sa kanila ‘to.”
Arellano pushed UE to the limit in the third set, taking a 26-25 lead and moving within a point of extending the match.
But Buhay answered with a cross-court attack to tie the set at 26-all before Catherine Chu failed to keep her next attack in bounds.
With the bronze medal within reach, Buhay delivered once more, firing an ace to finish off the Lady Chiefs and send UE to the podium.
Van Bangayan backed Buhay with 21 points, including 19 attacks and two aces, while team captain and libero Angge Reyes anchored the defense with 27 excellent sets and 14 excellent receptions. Jennel Arasan also contributed 16 excellent sets.
Chu led Arellano with 12 points and nine excellent receptions, while captain Kacelyn Punzalan added 10 markers. Crisanta Servidad had eight points, with Samantha Tiratira and Princess Al-Ag contributing seven and six, respectively.
(C) V-League
UE’s bronze-medal finish came on the same day that Colegio de San Juan de Letran also secured third place in the men’s tournament, sweeping College of Saint Benilde, 25-19, 25-17, 25-18, earlier Wednesday.
The Knights completed a major turnaround from their second-to-last finish last year, with Dave Lardizabal leading the way with 19 points on 14 attacks and five blocks.
Wayne Arano tallied 23 excellent sets, while Vince Himzon, Jasper Afgao, and Christer Ambrocio each scored nine points. John Santiagudo added seven markers as Letran dominated Benilde in attacks, 46-33, blocks, 9-1, and aces, 3-1.
Reymark Betco paced the Blazers with 13 points as Benilde settled for fourth place, an improvement from its sixth-place finish in last year’s tournament.
