Romwel Anzures

University of Santo Tomas in UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball. UAAP Media.

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1776766528521IMG_0688.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>University of Santo Tomas in UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball. UAAP Media.MANILA — University of Santo Tomas is hoping to avoid a playoff complication with Far Eastern University for the last postseason spot, while National University is aiming to secure the No. 2 seed in the step-ladder stage as the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball eliminations conclude on Wednesday.</div>Expect the Tigresses to go all out in their 3 p.m. clash and try to worsen the Lady Bulldogs’ situation, with the Lady Tamaraws watching closely as they face Ateneo de Manila University in the 1 p.m. curtain-raiser at the Araneta Coliseum.FEU must defeat also-ran Ateneo and hope for a UST loss to NU to force a do-or-die playoff for the final Final Four berth.The Tigresses hold an 8-5 record, ahead of the Lady Tamaraws’ 7-6 slate. A victory by UST would complete the Final Four cast.La Salle has already secured a direct Finals berth after edging NU, 19-25, 25-20, 25-23, 22-25, 15-10, to complete a 14-0 elimination sweep in a tense encounter last Sunday.The Lady Bulldogs squandered a chance to clinch the other twice-to-beat advantage in a traditional Final Four format, with La Salle’s win instead triggering the step-ladder format.NU holds a 9-4 record, just half a game ahead of Adamson University at 9-5, with the Lady Falcons returning to the Final Four after a three-year absence.A loss by NU to UST, combined with an FEU win over Ateneo, could create a three-way tie at 9-5. In that scenario, NU and Adamson would still advance via superior match points, forcing a playoff for the No. 2 seed, while UST would settle for fourth.In such a tie, NU could finish with 29 or 28 points, Adamson already has 28, while UST can only reach 26 or 27. The Tigresses would then settle for the No. 4 seed and face the loser of the NU–Adamson playoff in the first step-ladder round.If NU beats UST and FEU loses to Ateneo, the step-ladder pairings will be finalized: NU finishes at 10-4 and earns a bye to the second phase, awaiting the winner of the Adamson–UST knockout match for a Finals berth against La Salle, while FEU is eliminated.With a possible playoff against FEU—whom they have beaten twice this season—for the final spot, assistant coach Yani Fernandez emphasized the need for UST to elevate its level against NU, especially after the Lady Bulldogs’ tough loss to La Salle.“So, yun, challenge namin sa mga bata na gusto nyo pa bang mag-playoff for No. 4? Or kunin na natin yung spot na yun? So, challenge ulit sa team na ibigay yung 101% nila sa Wednesday game,” said Fernandez after UST defeated University of the Philippines, 23-25, 25-21, 25-22, 25-19, last Sunday.Angge Poyos, the league’s second-best scorer behind Adamson ace Shai Nitura, stressed that the Tigresses will need a collective effort to finish the eliminations strong.“For me, mahirap yung situation, pero for us players, ang need lang talaga namin is tiyagain namin. Kasi nandito na kami sa situation na to, and patapos na yung season. Yung patience sa sarili at sa team, yun yung puhunan namin para matapos yung season nang maayos—and syempre makapasok sa Final Four, and mag-overachieve if makapasok man sa Finals,” Poyos said.Meanwhile, NU still has a chance to secure the No. 2 seed, and Arah Panique remains confident the Lady Bulldogs will bounce back from their close loss to La Salle.“Siguro proud ako sa mga kasama ko kasi sa training pa lang, pinaghihirapan na namin yung bawat galaw namin, bawat kilos na kailangan naming gawin against them. Grabe rin yung pag-aaral namin sa galawan nila. Isang opportunity na makaabot kami sa fifth set, tapos nilaban namin. Siguro paghuhugutan namin yung pagkatalo ngayon, lalo na’t wala na kaming twice-to-beat. Sa step-ladder, kailangan naming maipanalo lahat para hindi na kami mahirapan ulit,” Panique said.Coming off a 20-25, 22-25, 23-25 loss to Adamson, FEU is simply hoping to stay alive by beating Ateneo and getting a favorable result from an NU win over UST.The Blue Eagles, at 2-11, are aiming to close their campaign with back-to-back wins, with both of their victories coming at the expense of the University of the East.Men’s action will also conclude on Wednesday with a pair of Final Four previews.UST, at 9-4 and trailing NU (10-4) by a game, hopes to force a playoff for the remaining twice-to-beat advantage at 11 a.m.FEU (12-1) and Ateneo (7-6) clash in the 9 a.m. opener, with the Tamaraws already holding a twice-to-beat advantage heading into the Final Four next week.

UST is hoping to avoid a playoff complication with FEU for the last postseason spot, while NU is aiming to secure the No. 2 seed in the step-ladder stage as the #UAAPSeason88 women’s volleyball eliminations conclude on Wednesday.

UST is hoping to avoid a playoff complication with FEU for the last postseason spot, while NU is aiming to secure the No. 2 seed in the step-ladder stage as the #UAAPSeason88 women’s volleyball eliminations conclude on Wednesday.

UAAP: UST battles NU for postseason berth, FEU fights for survival vs. Ateneo

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Volleyball

UAAP: UST battles NU for postseason berth, FEU fights for survival vs. Ateneo

ABS-CBN News

Published April 21, 2026 10:30 PM PHT

Read More:

Volleyball

UAAP

ABSSports

UAAP Season 88

UAAP Volleyball

UAAP Final Four

UAAP stepladder semis

UST

NU

FEU

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.