THE women’s and men’s volleyball championship of UAAP Season 86 will be disputed by National University (NU) and University of Santo Tomas (UST) starting today, May 11, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.
The NU Lady Bulldogs and the UST Tigresses, who finished 1-2 in the elimination round, split their head-to-head match-up this season.
Coaches Norman Miguel of NU and Kungfu Reyes of UST are working double time in training with a mission to win Game 1 and gain a huge psychological advantage in the best-of-three series.
NU, however, had a short preparation as it needed to beat Far Eastern University twice in the Final Four to reach the championship round for the third straight year.
UST, on the other hand, unseated No. 3 La Salle in a five-set thriller right away to secure its first finals stint since 2019.
The UST Golden Spikers and the NU Bulldogs advance to the finals of the UAAP 86 men’s volleyball event after defeating the FEU Tamaraws and the De La Salle University Green Spikers both in four sets — 25-18, 21-25, 26-24, 26-24 and 25-23, 22-25, 25-22, 25-21 respectively in the semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Photos by Rio Deluvio The UST Golden Spikers and the NU Bulldogs advance to the finals of the UAAP 86 men’s volleyball event after defeating the FEU Tamaraws and the De La Salle University Green Spikers both in four sets — 25-18, 21-25, 26-24, 26-24 and 25-23, 22-25, 25-22, 25-21 respectively in the semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Photos by Rio Deluvio The UST Golden Spikers and the NU Bulldogs advance to the finals of the UAAP 86 men’s volleyball event after defeating the FEU Tamaraws and the De La Salle University Green Spikers both in four sets — 25-18, 21-25, 26-24, 26-24 and 25-23, 22-25, 25-22, 25-21 respectively in the semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Photos by Rio Deluvio The UST Golden Spikers and the NU Bulldogs advance to the finals of the UAAP 86 men’s volleyball event after defeating the FEU Tamaraws and the De La Salle University Green Spikers both in four sets — 25-18, 21-25, 26-24, 26-24 and 25-23, 22-25, 25-22, 25-21 respectively in the semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Photos by Rio Deluvio The UST Golden Spikers and the NU Bulldogs advance to the finals of the UAAP 86 men’s volleyball event after defeating the FEU Tamaraws and the De La Salle University Green Spikers both in four sets — 25-18, 21-25, 26-24, 26-24 and 25-23, 22-25, 25-22, 25-21 respectively in the semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Photos by Rio Deluvio The UST Golden Spikers and the NU Bulldogs advance to the finals of the UAAP 86 men’s volleyball event after defeating the FEU Tamaraws and the De La Salle University Green Spikers both in four sets — 25-18, 21-25, 26-24, 26-24 and 25-23, 22-25, 25-22, 25-21 respectively in the semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Photos by Rio Deluvio The UST Golden Spikers and the NU Bulldogs advance to the finals of the UAAP 86 men’s volleyball event after defeating the FEU Tamaraws and the De La Salle University Green Spikers both in four sets — 25-18, 21-25, 26-24, 26-24 and 25-23, 22-25, 25-22, 25-21 respectively in the semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Photos by Rio Deluvio The UST Golden Spikers and the NU Bulldogs advance to the finals of the UAAP 86 men’s volleyball event after defeating the FEU Tamaraws and the De La Salle University Green Spikers both in four sets — 25-18, 21-25, 26-24, 26-24 and 25-23, 22-25, 25-22, 25-21 respectively in the semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Photos by Rio Deluvio The UST Golden Spikers and the NU Bulldogs advance to the finals of the UAAP 86 men’s volleyball event after defeating the FEU Tamaraws and the De La Salle University Green Spikers both in four sets — 25-18, 21-25, 26-24, 26-24 and 25-23, 22-25, 25-22, 25-21 respectively in the semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Photos by Rio Deluvio The UST Golden Spikers and the NU Bulldogs advance to the finals of the UAAP 86 men’s volleyball event after defeating the FEU Tamaraws and the De La Salle University Green Spikers both in four sets — 25-18, 21-25, 26-24, 26-24 and 25-23, 22-25, 25-22, 25-21 respectively in the semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Photos by Rio Deluvio The UST Golden Spikers and the NU Bulldogs advance to the finals of the UAAP 86 men’s volleyball event after defeating the FEU Tamaraws and the De La Salle University Green Spikers both in four sets — 25-18, 21-25, 26-24, 26-24 and 25-23, 22-25, 25-22, 25-21 respectively in the semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Photos by Rio Deluvio The UST Golden Spikers and the NU Bulldogs advance to the finals of the UAAP 86 men’s volleyball event after defeating the FEU Tamaraws and the De La Salle University Green Spikers both in four sets — 25-18, 21-25, 26-24, 26-24 and 25-23, 22-25, 25-22, 25-21 respectively in the semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Photos by Rio Deluvio The UST Golden Spikers and the NU Bulldogs advance to the finals of the UAAP 86 men’s volleyball event after defeating the FEU Tamaraws and the De La Salle University Green Spikers both in four sets — 25-18, 21-25, 26-24, 26-24 and 25-23, 22-25, 25-22, 25-21 respectively in the semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Photos by Rio Deluvio The UST Golden Spikers and the NU Bulldogs advance to the finals of the UAAP 86 men’s volleyball event after defeating the FEU Tamaraws and the De La Salle University Green Spikers both in four sets — 25-18, 21-25, 26-24, 26-24 and 25-23, 22-25, 25-22, 25-21 respectively in the semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Photos by Rio Deluvio The UST Golden Spikers and the NU Bulldogs advance to the finals of the UAAP 86 men’s volleyball event after defeating the FEU Tamaraws and the De La Salle University Green Spikers both in four sets — 25-18, 21-25, 26-24, 26-24 and 25-23, 22-25, 25-22, 25-21 respectively in the semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Photos by Rio Deluvio The UST Golden Spikers and the NU Bulldogs advance to the finals of the UAAP 86 men’s volleyball event after defeating the FEU Tamaraws and the De La Salle University Green Spikers both in four sets — 25-18, 21-25, 26-24, 26-24 and 25-23, 22-25, 25-22, 25-21 respectively in the semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Photos by Rio Deluvio The UST Golden Spikers and the NU Bulldogs advance to the finals of the UAAP 86 men’s volleyball event after defeating the FEU Tamaraws and the De La Salle University Green Spikers both in four sets — 25-18, 21-25, 26-24, 26-24 and 25-23, 22-25, 25-22, 25-21 respectively in the semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Photos by Rio Deluvio The UST Golden Spikers and the NU Bulldogs advance to the finals of the UAAP 86 men’s volleyball event after defeating the FEU Tamaraws and the De La Salle University Green Spikers both in four sets — 25-18, 21-25, 26-24, 26-24 and 25-23, 22-25, 25-22, 25-21 respectively in the semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Photos by Rio Deluvio The UST Golden Spikers and the NU Bulldogs advance to the finals of the UAAP 86 men’s volleyball event after defeating the FEU Tamaraws and the De La Salle University Green Spikers both in four sets — 25-18, 21-25, 26-24, 26-24 and 25-23, 22-25, 25-22, 25-21 respectively in the semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Photos by Rio Deluvio The UST Golden Spikers and the NU Bulldogs advance to the finals of the UAAP 86 men’s volleyball event after defeating the FEU Tamaraws and the De La Salle University Green Spikers both in four sets — 25-18, 21-25, 26-24, 26-24 and 25-23, 22-25, 25-22, 25-21 respectively in the semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Photos by Rio Deluvio The UST Golden Spikers and the NU Bulldogs advance to the finals of the UAAP 86 men’s volleyball event after defeating the FEU Tamaraws and the De La Salle University Green Spikers both in four sets — 25-18, 21-25, 26-24, 26-24 and 25-23, 22-25, 25-22, 25-21 respectively in the semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Photos by Rio Deluvio The UST Golden Spikers and the NU Bulldogs advance to the finals of the UAAP 86 men’s volleyball event after defeating the FEU Tamaraws and the De La Salle University Green Spikers both in four sets — 25-18, 21-25, 26-24, 26-24 and 25-23, 22-25, 25-22, 25-21 respectively in the semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Photos by Rio Deluvio The UST Golden Spikers and the NU Bulldogs advance to the finals of the UAAP 86 men’s volleyball event after defeating the FEU Tamaraws and the De La Salle University Green Spikers both in four sets — 25-18, 21-25, 26-24, 26-24 and 25-23, 22-25, 25-22, 25-21 respectively in the semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Photos by Rio Deluvio The UST Golden Spikers and the NU Bulldogs advance to the finals of the UAAP 86 men’s volleyball event after defeating the FEU Tamaraws and the De La Salle University Green Spikers both in four sets — 25-18, 21-25, 26-24, 26-24 and 25-23, 22-25, 25-22, 25-21 respectively in the semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Photos by Rio Deluvio The UST Golden Spikers and the NU Bulldogs advance to the finals of the UAAP 86 men’s volleyball event after defeating the FEU Tamaraws and the De La Salle University Green Spikers both in four sets — 25-18, 21-25, 26-24, 26-24 and 25-23, 22-25, 25-22, 25-21 respectively in the semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Photos by Rio Deluvio The UST Golden Spikers and the NU Bulldogs advance to the finals of the UAAP 86 men’s volleyball event after defeating the FEU Tamaraws and the De La Salle University Green Spikers both in four sets — 25-18, 21-25, 26-24, 26-24 and 25-23, 22-25, 25-22, 25-21 respectively in the semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Photos by Rio Deluvio The UST Golden Spikers and the NU Bulldogs advance to the finals of the UAAP 86 men’s volleyball event after defeating the FEU Tamaraws and the De La Salle University Green Spikers both in four sets — 25-18, 21-25, 26-24, 26-24 and 25-23, 22-25, 25-22, 25-21 respectively in the semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Photos by Rio Deluvio The UST Golden Spikers and the NU Bulldogs advance to the finals of the UAAP 86 men’s volleyball event after defeating the FEU Tamaraws and the De La Salle University Green Spikers both in four sets — 25-18, 21-25, 26-24, 26-24 and 25-23, 22-25, 25-22, 25-21 respectively in the semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Photos by Rio Deluvio The UST Golden Spikers and the NU Bulldogs advance to the finals of the UAAP 86 men’s volleyball event after defeating the FEU Tamaraws and the De La Salle University Green Spikers both in four sets — 25-18, 21-25, 26-24, 26-24 and 25-23, 22-25, 25-22, 25-21 respectively in the semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Photos by Rio Deluvio The UST Golden Spikers and the NU Bulldogs advance to the finals of the UAAP 86 men’s volleyball event after defeating the FEU Tamaraws and the De La Salle University Green Spikers both in four sets — 25-18, 21-25, 26-24, 26-24 and 25-23, 22-25, 25-22, 25-21 respectively in the semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Photos by Rio Deluvio The UST Golden Spikers and the NU Bulldogs advance to the finals of the UAAP 86 men’s volleyball event after defeating the FEU Tamaraws and the De La Salle University Green Spikers both in four sets — 25-18, 21-25, 26-24, 26-24 and 25-23, 22-25, 25-22, 25-21 respectively in the semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Photos by Rio Deluvio The UST Golden Spikers and the NU Bulldogs advance to the finals of the UAAP 86 men’s volleyball event after defeating the FEU Tamaraws and the De La Salle University Green Spikers both in four sets — 25-18, 21-25, 26-24, 26-24 and 25-23, 22-25, 25-22, 25-21 respectively in the semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Photos by Rio Deluvio The UST Golden Spikers and the NU Bulldogs advance to the finals of the UAAP 86 men’s volleyball event after defeating the FEU Tamaraws and the De La Salle University Green Spikers both in four sets — 25-18, 21-25, 26-24, 26-24 and 25-23, 22-25, 25-22, 25-21 respectively in the semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Photos by Rio Deluvio The UST Golden Spikers and the NU Bulldogs advance to the finals of the UAAP 86 men’s volleyball event after defeating the FEU Tamaraws and the De La Salle University Green Spikers both in four sets — 25-18, 21-25, 26-24, 26-24 and 25-23, 22-25, 25-22, 25-21 respectively in the semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Photos by Rio Deluvio
Powered by super rookie Angge Poyos and lefty sensation Jonna Perdido, the Tigresses went deeper this season by showing no fear in their game despite the disadvantages stacked against them.
UST is gunning for a 15th title and the first since 2010 when the Shaq de los Santos-mentored squad last ruled the league behind Aiza Maizo and Ange Tabaquero.
De los Santos returned to the Tigresses this season as part of Reyes’ coaching staff.
An interesting fact is Miguel was one of de los Santos’ assistants in the Tigresses’ most recent championship run.
The Lady Bulldogs, with Season 84 Rookie-MVP Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon leading the charge to regain the throne, hoping to capitalize on their championship experience.
The Bulldogs and the Golden Spikers, meanwhile, clash in a rematch of last season’s men’s finals at 2 p.m.
Making its ninth straight championship appearance, NU is eyeing a four-peat and sixth title overall.
UST became the first No. 4 team to advance to the championship round in the Final Four era after beating No. 1 FEU twice.
The Golden Spikers defeated the Bulldogs twice in the eliminations.
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Games Today (Smart Araneta Coliseum): 2 p.m. NU vs UST (men’s finals), 4 p.m. UST vs NU (women’s finals)
