University of Santo Tomas showcased remarkable heart and resilience as it outlasted Bacolod Tay Tung in a winner-take-all final, 16-25, 26-24, 19-25, 28-26, 15-10, to capture the Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League Rising Stars Cup Division 1 title on Friday at the La Salle Green Hills Gym.
Powered by the steady scoring of wing spikers Nicole Pelaez and Most Valuable Player Kim Rubin, the Junior Golden Tigresses completed a seven-game sweep of the tournament backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner, and R and B Milk Tea.
In a tense fifth set, Bacolod Tay Tung faltered first as the composed UST squad unleashed a decisive 8-2 run to break a 5-5 deadlock and build a commanding 13-7 lead.
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Rhose Almedralejo attempted to keep the Thunderbolts within striking distance, but UST stayed steady and reached match point after Almendralejo’s service error made it 14-8. Bacolod Tay Tung saved two match points, but Nicole Mendoza sealed the victory with a championship-clinching kill block against Jhaennine Mayang.
Pelaez delivered 24 points built on 20 attacks and four kill blocks, while Rubin added 23 points, 22 of which came from attacks, as UST reached the finals for the first time in four years after dethroning National University Nazareth School in a five-set semifinal thriller.
“Masasabi ko lang tyinaga talaga ng mga bata. Sabi ko nga sa kanila lalo na sina Rubin kasi senior na sila, sabi ko gumawa kayo ng history simula semis kasi ito na ang huling Shakey’s (GVIL) nyo. Sabi nga nila, ‘Coach, ngayon lang kami pumasok.’ So trabahuhin lang natin. Tyagain lang natin. Kulang kami ng players; sa totoo lang, nine players lang kami. Tyinaga lang namin. Unti-unti ginawan namin ng solusyon,” said UST coach Rochette Villegas.
Mendoza and Eliz Menchavez added 10 points each to round out UST’s balanced attack.
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Despite another runner-up finish, Bacolod Tay Tung extended its string of near-misses in the tournament, with Almendralejo finishing with 26 points. Mayang contributed 17 points while Faith Banguia added 12 in the losing effort.
Almendralejo was named Best Outside Hitter, Jhayna Bulandres of NUNS won Best Opposite Spiker, while Mendoza earned Best Middle Blocker honors. Bacolod Tay Tung’s Luchi Viviero was named Best Libero, and UST’s Andreaj Tan Chun Bing took home Best Setter recognition.
Last year’s Division 1 champion NUNS salvaged a bronze medal finish after sweeping Far Eastern University-Diliman, 25-18, 25-21, 25-18, in the tournament supported by Smart Sports, PusoP.com, Solar Sports Free TV, Mikasa, Asics, Eurotel, Team Rebel Sports, and Rigour Technology as technical partners.
