Undefeated University of Santo Tomas and College of Saint Benilde arranged a championship showdown after sweeping their respective opponents in the knockout semifinals of the 2026 Shakey’s Collegiate National Invitationals on Friday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Golden Tigresses extended their perfect run to 6-0 with a dominant 25-10, 25-19, 25-12 victory over Letran to reach the finals for the first time in the tournament backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner, and R&B Milk Tea.
Meanwhile, the Lady Blazers overwhelmed Australian guest team Southern Storm Melbourne, 25-19, 25-23, 25-11, to earn a shot at redemption after finishing runner-up in last year’s Luzon leg.
The winner-take-all championship match is set for Sunday at the FilOil Arena in San Juan.
Cam Bartolome led the Lady Blazers, who also defeated Southern Storm in four sets during their elimination round meeting on Thursday, with 14 points built on 12 attacks, one ace, and one block.
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“I think ‘yung nakatulong sa amin kanina is yung composure. Kasi kahit galit na si coach, hindi pa rin kami nagpapadala. Mas eager kaming manalo ngayon,” Bartolome said.
Fionna Inocentes contributed 11 points, while Mhonniecka Soliven and Mary Grace Borromeo chipped in eight and seven, respectively.
Saint Benilde erased a 15-20 deficit in the second set with a blistering 10-3 run, capped by an off-speed hit from Soliven to seize a commanding 2-0 lead. The Lady Blazers then raced to a 16-6 advantage in the third set before wrapping up the match in just 75 minutes.
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Sammy Pila and Cleo Anastasias scored eight points apiece for Southern Storm, which will face Letran in the battle for bronze on Sunday.
Earlier, UST captain Regina Jurado delivered 12 points, including 11 attacks, and added three digs as the España-based squad overwhelmed the Lady Knights behind 32 attack points.
“Hindi po ako nagpapadala sa pressure ng underline (team captain uniform mark). I can play my game freely with the team,” said Jurado, who, along with Angge Poyos, sat out the Golden Tigresses’ final elimination round match on Thursday.
“Gusto namin magpatuloy ‘yung success ng UST dito,” she added as UST aims to add another title to the school’s Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League Rising Stars Cup and Juniors National Invitationals championships.
Aside from a brief challenge in the second set, the Golden Tigresses controlled the match from start to finish to arrange a finals rematch against the same Lady Blazers squad they defeated in four sets during the elimination round.
Marga Altea anchored UST’s defensive effort, helping the Golden Tigresses tally 11 kill blocks to stifle Letran’s offense.
Altea finished with 13 points on nine attacks and four kill blocks, while Poyos added 10 markers.
Leonilyn Padilla briefly kept Letran within striking distance before UST closed the match with the final three points, ending on the Lady Knights’ 27th error.
No Letran player scored in double figures, with leading scorer Verenicce Colendra limited to seven points. Reeza Abayon added five.
In the classification match, Enderun Colleges swept Ho Chi Minh City Volleyball Club, 25-19, 25-17, 25-19, to secure fifth place in the tournament supported by Jetour, Baic, Eurotel, Victory Liner Rent & Go, F2 Logistics, Summit Natural Drinking Water, PusoP.com, and Smart Sports.
All games in the tournament, backed by technical partners Philippine Sports Commission, Commission on Higher Education, Mikasa, Asics, Rigour Technology, and Team Rebel Sports, are available live and on demand via the PusoP.com livestream and Solar Sports.
