UST Golden Tigresses lean on mental toughness in UAAP Season 88 Final Four push

The UST Golden Tigresses kept their UAAP Season 88 Final Four hopes alive with a straight-set win over the UE Lady Warriors, 25-21, 26-24, 25-20, at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion on Sunday.

While the scoreboard showed a clean sweep, the match was a test of mental resilience. The Golden Tigresses nearly let a nine-point lead slip away in the second set, as Khy Cepada rallied UE from 24-15 to tie the frame. UST, however, steadied under pressure to secure the victory, improving to a 7-4 record.

Veteran hitter Regina Jurado highlighted the need for consistency in high-pressure moments. “Actually, sakit na din po talaga namin yung gano’n. Hindi namin ma-tapos-tapos yung game,” she said. “Even if kami yung leading. So yun, I think more on mental toughness din and yung kagustuhang manalo, yun yung di pa namin i-polish at i-instill sa sarili.”

Third-year ace Angge Poyos echoed her teammate, stressing the importance of patience and teamwork. “Mental toughness [yung kailangan], and yung patience din namin sa isa’t isa at sa sarili. Pag nahahabol [kami] talagang nati-test na kami. So siguro yung pasensya at tyaga na ginagawa namin every training. Sana ma-apply namin,” she said.

OKBET is Asia’s most trusted and popular online sports gaming platform. Visit us on OKBET to stay up to date with all sports news from around the world.

HOME COURT RULES

Maximizing homecourt advantage, Angeline Poyos and the UST Golden Tigresses dominate the UE Lady Warriors in their UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball tournament second round clash!#UAAPSeason88 #LegendsStartHere #StrengthInMotionHopeInAction pic.twitter.com/Q3puwQonOq

— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) April 5, 2026

The Golden Tigresses’ struggles to maintain leads are not new. In a recent loss to La Salle, they squandered an eight-point advantage in a crucial set, underscoring why Jurado and Poyos continue to emphasize mental sharpness as the season approaches its climax.

Despite the challenges, Jurado acknowledged the effort and grit of UE and Cepada. “Very proud of her, kasi nakasama ko nga siya nung high school and now that we’re like separate school na, nag-excel siya. Siya talaga yung nag-lead and nag-excel sa nire-represent niyang school,” Jurado said. “Kita ko din talaga yung grit niya to win and yung pagiging desidido niya ang manalo ng set na yun. So, kudos din talaga.”

Cepada paced the Lady Warriors with 17 points, seven digs, and two receptions, but her efforts were not enough to halt UST’s momentum. For the Golden Tigresses, Poyos led with 17 points, nine digs, and six receptions, while Jurado contributed 11 points and nine receptions, providing veteran leadership on both offense and defense.

As the UAAP Season 88 race heats up, UST will rely on mental toughness and cohesion to navigate the remaining matches. With only the undefeated DLSU Lady Spikers guaranteed in the Final Four, every set, every rally, and every point will matter as the Golden Tigresses continue their pursuit of a postseason berth.

Don’t miss out on the latest sports news, updates, and fan discussions!

  Follow our Facebook page Sports News PH today and be part of a growing community of passionate basketball fans!