Manila: The University of Santo Tomas (UST) defeated the University of the Philippines (UP), 5-1, in the UAAP Season 88 softball tournament at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Malate, Manila on Tuesday. It was UST's first win over UP since their initial encounter in Season 86 on March 6, 2024. UP, which had previously secured a 6-3 victory over reigning 12-time champion Adamson University last Saturday, experienced its first defeat after three games.

According to Philippines News Agency, UST and UP are now in a three-way tie for the lead with Adamson University, which triumphed over De La Salle University with a score of 3-1 in another game. Meanwhile, La Salle faced its fourth loss against one win, and Ateneo de Manila University remained winless after five games.

UST made their mark in the third inning when Gen Degollacion drove Erika Fernandez home with a sacrifice fly to right field. In the fifth inning, rookie Annarose Macatbag secured her second hit, followed by fellow newcomer Jaime Bueza, who brought Macatbag home with an RBI.

Long-time head coach Sandy Barredo commented, 'It didn't make any difference because even my rookies delivered, they just didn't use their No. 1 pitcher. That's what I expected; I expected to be home in a moment, but I don't know, the game turned around. And there we were, winning; the kids showed a good performance.'

Macatbag ended the game with three hits, while Bueza contributed two hits and two RBIs. Degollacion managed two RBIs, one being the sacrifice fly in the third and a double that brought Helga Campos home in the sixth inning. Barredo added, 'I just scouted how they hit, especially their big hitters. You know that's going to the fence, so watch out. Plus (Jamm'n) Rasco, no hit - the ones who hit well but didn't hit. The ones I expected to hit, but they didn't deliver.'