The UST Tiger Spikers booked their ticket to the V-League Collegiate Challenge Finals, nipping the FEU Tamaraw Spikers, 25-19, 25-22, 23-25, 25-23, sweeping their semi-final series, on Friday, Sept. 22 at the Paco Arena.

The Tiger Spikers were down 20-22 in the fourth set when Josh Ybanez, Gboy De Vega, and Popoy Colinares connived for a 5-1 run closing out FEU's fifth set hopes.

Ybanez posted 28 points and 27 excellent receptions to lead the charge for the Tiger Spikers, who returned to the V-League Finals after finishing as runners-up in last year's edition.

De Vega, on the other hand, tallied 18 markers, while Rainier Flor and Popoy Colinares added 11 and nine respectively lifting UST.

The Tamaraw Spikers kept it close early, answering every UST run before the Tiger Spikers put together three straight kills midway through to get a 1-0 headstart.

UST's attacks continued to be a problem for the Tamaraws as the Tiger Spikers started the second set with a 6-1 edge. FEU stormed back in the latter stages to cut the lead to a single point before De Vega punctuated a finishing run with a kill on a block touch to take a 2-0 lead.

The battle at the attack department was tight throughout the game with UST only leading by two, 58-56, over the Tamaraws.

The Tamaraws then picked up momentum in the third set, cracking UST's net defense early with its attacks while errors plagued the Tiger Spikers on their plays en route to conceding the third set.

The Tiger Spikers regained form in the fourth period as Ybanez and De Vega took charge with their combination plays to keep the Tamaraws at bay and ultimately seal the victory.

UST will face the winner of the Ateneo-DLSU series in the finals.