Marga Altea announced her arrival in style. The rookie erupted for 21 points, rescuing the Golden Tigresses from the brink of collapse in the 2026 V-League Collegiate Challenge.

UST needed all five sets to outlast UE, 24–26, 25–17, 25–23, 20–25, 15–5. The win came Saturday, September 5, at Gameville Central Park in Mandaluyong City.

Marga Altea’s Breakout Game Headlines UST’s V-League Comeback

UST let a two-set lead slip away and dropped the fourth set to UE. Altea steadied the ship, nearly notching a triple-double with 16 kills, 12 excellent receptions, and nine digs.

The 19-year-old, a former UST High School captain, outscored UE’s entire roster in the decider, 6–5. Her final blow was a service ace that gave UST a commanding 13–4 lead.

Head coach Shaq Delos Santos praised his young core for its response. He noted the team stayed composed even without veterans Reg Jurado and Angge Poyos, who both sat out.

UST Survives Marathon Match Despite Balingit Injury Scare

The win didn’t come without cost. Julia Balingit exited in the fourth set with a right ankle injury after scoring 19 points.

Ash Knop stepped in for Balingit and helped close out the match. The contest lasted two hours and nine minutes, UST’s longest of the tournament so far.

Cassie Carballo, filling in as acting captain, ran the offense with 30 excellent sets. UE’s Van Bangayan fought hard with 18 points, but it wasn’t enough to prevent a 1–2 start.

UST improves to 2–1 and will face University of Perpetual Help System DALTA (1–2) on Wednesday at noon. UE looks to rebound against San Beda University (0–2) earlier that day at 10 a.m.