The Tigresses during their battle against Ateneo in the UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum on March 20, 2024. UAAP Media

MANILA (UPDATED) – The University of Santo Tomas secured its eighth victory of the UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball tournament in cardiac fashion. 

The Golden Tigresses had to grind out every single point as they were made to work by the Ateneo Blue Eagles on Wednesday before claiming a 25-15, 27-25, 23-25, 26-28, 15-13 triumph on Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. 

For coach Kungfu Reyes, the five-setter will serve as a "great experience" for his young squad. 

"[This is] another great experience para dito sa young guns namin. 'Yun lang naman. At least, real-time naexperience nila ['yung] big crowd, ang daming tao, spotlight, 'di namin maituro sa ensayo 'to eh, 'yung mga pressure game. At least first-hand, na-experience nila especially itong game sa Ateneo," Reyes told reporters after the match. 

(This is another great experience for our young guns. At least they could experience real-time the big crowds, the people, spotlight. We cannot teach this during practice, these kind of pressure games. At least first-hand, they experienced this especially this match against Ateneo.) 

READ: No complacency from Golden Tigresses despite perfect start: Kung Fu

READ: UST's Poyos, Ybañez earn Players of the Week honors

READ: UAAP: UST targets win No. 8 against Ateneo

UST had to survive three 20-point outings from the Blue Eagles — Lyann De Guzman put up 22, while Zel Tsunashima and Sobe Buena added 21 markers each. 

UAAP Player of the Week Angge Poyos paced her team with 22 points (21 attacks, one block), while Regina Jurado (19 points, 10 excellent digs), Jonna Perdido (17 points), and Cassie Carballo (10 points, 26 excellent sets) completed UST's supporting cast in the offense department. 

Bernadett Pepito protected Tigresses' turf with 18 excellent digs and 23 excellent receptions. 

The España spikers overhauled a 24-22 cushion of the Katipunan-based squad in the second canto and turned things upside down as Jurado led the clutch attacks for UST in their comeback. 

The most important one that set was when Jurado unleashed a powerful kill in the middle from a 25-deadlock, and then the Tigresses' net defense worked wonders as they blocked Tsunashima's attempt to edge Ateneo for a 2-0 set lead. 

READ: UAAP: NU escapes Ateneo in 5 sets for first win

READ: UAAP: Buena, De Guzman star as Ateneo soars over Adamson

The Blue Eagles claimed the next two frames, only to fall short in the clincher as UST emerged with the much-needed crucial points from a 13-deadlock — all from Perdido. 

Perdido fired two attacks points, the last one from a combination play with her setter to conclude the two-hour, 37-minute well-contested battle. 

"Para sa akin, kinapitan lang po talaga and pumalag lang po kami hanggang dulo," said Perdido. 

(For me, we just held on and we fought until the end.) 

UST remained unbeaten at 8-0, while Ateneo dropped to 2-6 card.