The roar returned to the Quadricentennial Pavilion on Saturday as the University of Santo Tomas turned its home floor into a statement stage, dismantling the University of the East in both the men’s and women’s divisions of UAAP Season 88 volleyball.
In a league where momentum can define a campaign, UST seized it in emphatic fashion — two matches, six sets, zero concessions.
The Golden Tigresses set the tone with a clinical 25-11, 25-14, 25-14 victory over the Lady Warriors. From the opening whistle, UST dictated pace and rhythm, overwhelming UE with sharp service pressure and organized floor defense. The result evened UST’s record at 2-2, but the more telling development was the cohesion beginning to surface within the squad.
Angge Poyos anchored the offense with 11 points, while Jonna Perdido added 10, consistently converting in transition and capitalizing on broken plays. UE, still searching for its first win, struggled to generate sustained scoring runs, with Khy Cepada leading the Lady Warriors with nine points.
UST head coach Shaq Delos Santos emphasized growth over glamour after the win.
“Happy and proud because slowly, we’re starting to adapt to each other and to what we want to achieve. We know we still have a lot to improve on, but the good thing is we got a good result today,” he said.
Earlier in the day, the Golden Spikers mirrored that dominance in the men’s division, dispatching the Red Warriors, 25-18, 25-22, 25-22, to climb to 3-1 in the standings.
Josh Ybañez once again delivered under pressure, finishing with 13 points built on 11 attacks, one block, and one ace. Trevor Valera provided steady secondary scoring with 10 markers, helping UST maintain control in the tighter second and third sets where UE threatened to extend the match.
Raquim Aceron scored 12 points for UE, while Mark Lee Buddin added 10, but the Red Warriors fell to 1-3 as they failed to convert key endgame opportunities.
Beyond the box score, Saturday’s twin sweep reflected something more strategic for UST: system discipline. Both teams showed improved reception patterns, faster tempo in the middle, and better set distribution — subtle indicators that their early-season adjustments are beginning to crystallize.
With the elimination round heating up, UST’s synchronized surge may signal more than just a home-court victory. It could be the turning point that steadies both squads for a deeper run in Season 88.