NATIONAL University and the University of Santo Tomas will collide in the UAAP Season 86 men’s and women’s volleyball titles after taking different routes to the finals.
The fourth-ranked UST Golden Spikers completed their sweep of the top-seeded Far Eastern University Tamaraws, 25-18, 21-25, 26-24, 26-24, at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on Wednesday.
Outside hitter and reigning Most Valuable Player Josh Ybañez made 19 points and 13 excellent receptions for the Golden Spikers, who forced the decider following a 25-23, 25-19, 28-26 victory on Sunday.
It was the first time that a fourth-ranked volleyball team made the finals since the Final Four format was introduced in 2004.
Three-time defending champion NU eliminated De La Salle, 25-23, 22-25, 25-22, 25-21, in the first game.
NU won last year via a sweep of UST, but the Golden Spikers mastered the Bulldogs in the elimination round this season.
Both Santo Tomas teams are headed to the finals for the first time since Seasons 72 and 73 after the second-seeded women’s team dethroned De La Salle University, 25-20, 16-25, 25-20, 19-25, 15-7, also on Sunday.
It will take on top-seeded NU, which finally disposed of FEU, 25-13, 27-25, 25-15, late Wednesday.
Bella Belen led the Lady Bulldogs with 21 points, including five aces.
FEU delayed NU’s finals march with a 25-23, 25-17, 25-23 triumph on Saturday.
