MANILA (UPDATED) – The University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Tigresses bucked tall odds as they accomplished what other teams in the UAAP haven’t done since Season 81 – to taint the clean record of the NU Lady Bulldogs.

On Saturday, the Tigresses tamed the dominant Lady Bulldogs via a tight 25-23, 27-25, 17-25, 22-25, 15-11 victory at the Mall of Asia Arena, ending NU’s 20-game winning run in the women’s volleyball tournament.

The win, witnessed by 7,893 fans in the Pasay City venue, gave the UST a share of second spot with the Lady Bulldogs and Adamson Lady Falcons with 2-1 slates.

Eya Laure and rookie Regina Jurado steered the Tigresses with 18 points apiece while Milena Alessandrini had 14 points including some crucial points in the fifth.

NU last tasted a defeat in the UAAP in April 27, 2019 in Season 81. Interestingly, that loss came at the hands of the Tigresses too, 27-25, 25-17, 20-25, 25-16.

“Ups and downs yung flow ng game. Yun yung mga undertakings na kailangan naming i-overcome…Yun nga, luckily, I think bad game para kay NU. Kahit bad game, napakahirap manalo sa kanila. Every single point kailangang trabahuhin,” UST head coach Kungfu Reyes said.

Lady Bulldogs appeared to be on their way to escaping UST after rolling to a 5-2 start in the fifth set, capped by a hit by rookie Vangie Alinsug.

But the Tigresses quickly tied the game as Alessandrini and Jurado teamed up, 5-5. UST eventually grabbed the lead after an attack error of NU before the returning Fil-Italian spiker unleashed a strong spike for an 8-6 advantage.

UST extended the gap to five after rookie Xyza Gula scored off a crosscourt hit, 12-7. Laure unloaded a powerful hit that put them at match point.

NU would string a couple of points before Laure spoiled Alyssa Solomon’s attack to clinch the win.

The Lady Bulldogs carried the momentum they got from the third-set win in the fourth frame, establishing a 20-16 separation.

But the gritty Tigresses fought back once again as they equalized the game after a dumped ball from Imee Hernandez and a net touch from NU, 22-all.

Solomon prevented another NU collapse in the fourth as she sparked a 3-0 closeout with a smart play.

Meanwhile, Solomon paced the Lady Bulldogs again with 22 points while Bella Belen and Erin Pangilinan added 17 and 13, respectively.

This marks the second straight time that NU was pushed to a decider in Season 85, having beaten Adamson in five sets last Wednesday. The Lady Bulldogs did not figure in a five-setter in Season 84, wherein they won the championship via a 16-0 sweep of the tournament.

• READ: NU survives Adamson, stays undefeated

The result leaves De La Salle University (2-0) as the lone remaining undefeated team in the UAAP women's volleyball tournament.