NU's Celine Marsh in action against San Beda in the quarterfinals of the 2025 Shakey's Super League Preseason Unity Cup, October 21, 2025 at the Andres Gym in Manila. Handout/Shakey's
MANILA -- Defending champion National University and the University of Santo Tomas are through to the Final 4 of the 2025 Shakey's Super League (SSL) Preseason Unity Cup after taking care of business against their respective opponents on Tuesday at the Andres Gym in Manila.
Celine Marsh stepped up for the Lady Bulldogs as they turned back a gritty San Beda squad, 26-24, 25-27, 25-18, 25-16, in their quarterfinal clash.
The sophomore open spiker took over the scoring role in the absence of Sam Cantada and Denesse Daylisan, who are currently playing for the national team in the 2025 Asian Youth Games in Bahrain, finishing with a game-high 23 points.
READ: National U, Adamson earn q'finals bonus in Shakey's tourney
NU had a shaky start where it needed to stave off the pesky Lady Red Spikers in a tight, extended opening set before yielding the second frame.
With Marsh leading the way, the Lady Bulldogs got their rhythm going in the next two sets, building comfortable gaps to keep San Beda at bay to remain unscathed after seven starts.
"It was not our A-game. Madami pa talaga kaming need i-improve. Madami pa kaming need na connect and stuff. Ang ginawa namin sa mga remaining sets we really needed to be composed para makuha ang match na ito," said Marsh, who had 21 kills and two kill blocks.
Abegail Pono had 12 points, Alexa Mata and Myrtle Escanlar added 11 markers each while Chams Maaya scored 10 for the Lady Bulldogs, who also rested skipper Vange Alinsug. Veteran setter Lams Lamin dished out 19 excellent sets to help NU outgun the Lady Red Spikers, 59-40 in attacks.
Angel Habacon was the lone Lady Red Spiker in double figures with 17 points.
The UST Golden Tigresses celebrate a point against Ateneo in the quarterfinals of the 2025 Shakey's Super League Preseason Unity Cup, October 21, 2025 at the Andres Gym in Manila. Handout/Shakey's
Meanwhile, the Tigresses cruised past hapless Ateneo de Manila University, 25-16, 25-21, 25-21, to book a fourth straight semis appearance in the competition.
Regina Jurado uncorked 13 points while Xyza Gula logged 11 markers for UST, which didn’t need to use its quarters incentive to draw closer to a championship return since its runner-up finish in 2023.
The Tigresses had a scare in the third frame after the Blue Eagles closed the gap, 22-21, before Poyos, Cassie Carballo and Blessing Unekwe put on the finishing touches in the one-hour, 31-minute encounter.
Faye Nisperos had nine points and Ana Hermosura finished with seven in Ateneo’s sixth defeat in a row.
Both NU and UST will advance to the semis armed with a twice-to-beat advantage by virtue of their No.1 seedings in their respective pools after the second round.
The Lady Bulldogs will face in the Final Four the survivor between Far Eastern University and University of the Philippines while the Tigresses battle the quarters winner between Adamson University and College of Saint Benilde.
Semis action is set to begin Sunday. A sudden death, if needed, will be played on October 29.
San Beda and Ateneo have been relegated to the classification round starting Friday at the Paco Arena.
CSB STAYS ALIVE
Meanwhile, College of St. Benilde stayed in the hunt after pulling off a 28-26, 20-25, 25-15, 19-25, 15-12 win against an undermanned Adamson squad in their own quarterfinal showdown.
The Lady Falcons were without their top gunner in Shaina Nitura.
Rhea Densing scored five of her game-high 24 points in the deciding frame for the Lady Blazers, who snapped a two-game slide in a shocker over the twice-to-beat Lady Falcons.
CSB will try to complete a quarterfinals upset in the do-or-die match scheduled on Friday at the Paco Arena.
"Itutuluy-tuloy lang namin kung ano ang ginawa namin today, yun pa rin ang gagawin namin next game," said Densing, who got all her points off kills.
Zam Nolasco registered 12 markers while Camila Bartolome got nine points for the Lady Blazers.
CSB shattered a 4-4 deadlock with a 7-3 run to take control of the fifth set. Back-to-back hits from Densing and a down the line kill by Shahanna Densing pushed the Lady Blazers at match point, 14-10.
Adamson saved two match points before Nolasco put the game away with a sharp hit.
Joy Aseo saw her 20-point output for the Lady Falcons, who rested Nitura due to an injury, go down the drain.
Frances Mordi and Abegail Segui had 11 markers each for Adamson.