University of Santo Tomas showed poise under pressure to outlast St. John’s Institute-Bacolod, 25-19, 25-23, 23-25, 18-25, 19-17, in a thrilling winner-take-all final to capture the 2026 Shakey’s Juniors National Invitationals title on Saturday at the FilOil Centre in San Juan.
The Junior Tigresses flirted with disaster after squandering a two-set lead but recovered from a five-point deficit in the deciding frame to complete a remarkable comeback.
Most Valuable Player Nicole Pelaez erupted for 27 points built on 24 kills, two blocks, and an ace as UST completed the tournament, backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner, and R and B Milk Tea, with a perfect 8-0 record.
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Jyrah Romias chipped in 17 points, Anneli Manzanillo scored 14, and Eliz Menchavez added 13 markers for the Junior Tigresses, who completed a season sweep after also winning the 2026 Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League Rising Stars Cup Division 1 title last May.
UST erased a 12-7 deficit in the fifth set with five unanswered points to tie the score. The Falcons reached match point after a Pelaez service error, but Sophie Pamplona sent her serve long to force deuce.
Romias then gave the Junior Tigresses a match point with a down-the-line kill, only for SJI-Bacolod star Caera Celis to level the score at 15-all.
The Falcons saved two more match points before Pelaez delivered a clutch kill. Moments later, a costly attack error by Kristel Mirasol sealed the nearly three-hour championship victory for UST.
“Ang turning point ay nu’ng 12-8 (sa fifth set). Nag-iba ang body language ng mga players namin. Pero ‘yun talaga sa fifth set kung sino ang mas gustong manalo at lalaban sa kanya mapupunta ang panalo,” UST head coach Yani Fernandez said.
The Falcons had forced a deciding set after overcoming a 20-22 deficit in the third. Celis scored the final three points of a 4-0 run to put SJI-Bacolod at set point before Romias briefly halted the rally. However, a costly UST net touch handed the set to the Bacolod-based squad.
Riding that momentum, SJI-Bacolod played with renewed confidence in the fourth set. Celis and Edz Escultura powered the Falcons as they pulled away midway through the frame to force a winner-take-all fifth set.
Celis finished with 28 points, including 26 attacks, while Escultura added 14 markers and Mirasol contributed 13 for the Falcons.
UST also survived a late scare in the second set after building a 24-19 lead. SJI-Bacolod responded with four straight points, aided by two UST errors, to threaten a comeback.
Ciarra Calfoforo eventually ended the Falcons’ rally with a well-timed block on Marteena Ferrer to secure the set and give the Junior Tigresses a commanding 2-0 match lead.
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Meanwhile, Arellano University High School leaned on Cassandra Paralejas’ hot hitting to defeat One La Salle, 19-25, 25-15, 25-20, 25-19, and claim the bronze medal.
Paralejas scored 22 points, including 21 kills, while Arah Suizo and Ysabelle Borja contributed 12 and 10 points, respectively, as the Lady Braves salvaged a podium finish against the team that had beaten them in the elimination round.
After a sluggish opening set, Arellano found its rhythm in the second frame and controlled the match the rest of the way to complete the two-hour victory in the tournament, supported by Jetour, Baic, Eurotel, Victory Liner Rent & Go, F2 Logistics, Summit Natural Drinking Water, PusoP.com, and Smart Sports.
Antonella Jayobo led One La Salle with 16 points, Aislinn Alemana added 15, and Kylie Celada chipped in 12. However, the team surrendered 36 free points off its unforced errors.
All matches 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.
