De La Salle University and the University of Santo Tomas have set the stage for an eagerly awaited semifinal showdown after securing divergent victories in the knockout quarterfinals of the 2023 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) National Invitationals.
The exhilarating clashes took place on Wednesday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
The Lady Spikers breezed past their opponents from Mindanao, Jose Maria College Foundation (JMCF), with a dominant performance resulting in a 25-18, 25-14, 25-19 victory.
Meanwhile, the Golden Tigresses had to overcome a challenge from Luzon contender and NAASCU champion Enderun Colleges, triumphing in four sets with scores of 25-13, 25-16, 21-25, 25-14.
On Friday, La Salle and UST will collide in the first match of the highly anticipated Final Four, a rematch occurring three months after their enthralling semifinal battle during UAAP Season 85, which was ultimately claimed by the spikers from Taft.
Demonstrating their undeniable prowess as reigning UAAP champions, the Lady Spikers showcased an unstoppable performance even amidst the gathering of SSL champions from NCR, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
They secured yet another sweeping victory in just 67 minutes.
The dynamic duo of Shevana Laput and Thea Gagate once again asserted their dominance on both offensive and defensive fronts, leading La Salle to their third consecutive comfortable win without relinquishing a single set in the 12-team SSL.
The tournament is proudly presented by Eurotel as the official hotel and Victory Liner as the office transport provider, in cooperation with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). (ai/mnm)