Before the start of the highly-anticipated UAAP Season 87 Volleyball Tournament, let us take a trip down memory lane, look back at the tournament’s past champions, and know what these legends are doing decades after their triumph.

In recent memory, the University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses lineup in UAAP Season 69 back in 2006 can be considered one of the best collegiate teams ever competed in the tournament.

At the end of the elimination round, the University of Santo Tomas and the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws were tied at 11 wins and one loss. The De La Salle University varsity teams were suspended during the season after fielding two ineligible players in the previous seasons.

For the first-seed, the Lady Tamaraws edged the Golden Tigresses in a grueling five-setter match, 25-22, 22-25, 25-21, 25-27, 15-11. In the semifinals, the Lady Tamaraws easily dismantled the University of the East Amazons. In the other semifinal matchup, the Adamson University Lady Falcons took first blood against the Golden Tigresses, 25-18, 25-19, 23-25, 25-23.

In the second game of the semifinal matchup between UST and Adamson, the Golden Tigresses woke up at the right side of the bed as they showed dominance over the Lady Falcons, 25-13, 25-18, 25-13.

In the finals, the Golden Tigresses drew first blood against the Lady Tamaraws, 25-14, 25-20, 23-25, 25-20. In game two of the finals, the España-based squad did not look back as they easily fended off the Morayta-based school, 25-11, 25-22, 25-19.

The Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws were bannered by Rachel Anne Daquis, rookie Maica Morada, Best Spiker Mary Ann Manalo, and veteran setter Wendy Anne Semana.

For the side of the University of Santo Tomas, here are the players who led the team to victory under the guidance of the legendary August Sta. Maria.

Mary Jean Balse

Middle blocker Mary Jean Balse served as the team captain of the University of Santo Tomas Season 69 roster, manning the net and fending off attacks from the opponents. One of the best middle blockers that played in the UAAP, Ging, as she is fondly called, was an unstoppable machine in her prime, together with Venus Bernal, also known as Double B.

Balse won the highly-coveted UAAP Rookie of the Year award in Season 67, where they settled for silver after losing in the finals against the De La Salle University Lady Spikers. In Season 70, Balse was the Best Attacker of the tournament but the team settled for the bronze medal. In Season 71, Ging’s last year wearing the black-and-yellow jersey, they once again settled for bronze after losing to the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws.

After her UAAP career, Balse continued her domination in the Shakey’s V-League, the predecessor of the Premiere Volleyball League (PVL), with the Golden Tigresses. In Shakey’s V-League alone, Balse won nine gold medals and multiple podium finishes.

Balse also represented the Philippines in international tournaments, most notably as part of the third-place teams that competed in the 2003 and 2005 Southeast Asian Games.

Balse is now a loving wife and mother and is still active in the Philippine Army. She last competed in the 2022 PVL Reinforced Conference with the United Auctioneers Army Lady Troopers.

Venus Bernal

Dubbed the Queen TIgress during her time, Venus Bernal led the Golden Tigresses in her last year playing for the school in Season 69. Aside from the championship, Bernal was awarded the Most Valuable Player and Best Scorer.

After her career in the UAAP, Bernal took a seven-year break from volleyball before coming back into the taraflex to play for the Cignal HD Spikers in the inaugural season of the Philippine Super Liga in 2013. Showing no rust after years of absence, Bernal won the Most Valuable Player award as she led her team to a runner-up finish.

She took a break to focus on her day job before returning to the same team for the 2016 Philippine Super Liga Grand Prix. After the conference, where her team finished last, Bernal called it quits as she gave a chance to younger players to step up.

Bernal is happily married and has one child.

Denise Tan

Before becoming a broadcaster, Denise Tan orchestrated the offense of the Golden Tigresses as their setter. In Season 69, she won the Best Setter award. Not long after, Tan made use of her college degree as she became a courtside reporter for the Shakey’s V-League. She graduated from the University of Santo Tomas with a degree in communication arts.

Currently, Tan is still a sports broadcaster.

Angeli Tabaquero

Angeli Tabaquero was only a sophomore but she provided a much-needed help to both Mary Jean Balse and Venus Bernal at the net. In the first game of the finals, the trio combined for 50 points to quickly dismantle the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws. In both games of the finals, Tabaquero was named as the Player of the Game. After a one-year hiatus, Tabaquero returned to the UAAP and led the Golden Tigresses to another victory in Season 72.

After her collegiate career, Tabaquero served as the team captain of the Philippine national team in the 2013 Asian Championship. She was also the team captain of several club teams and won multiple tournaments. In 2018, Tabaquero finally hung her jersey. She is now a FIVB Level II Coach.

Aiza Maizo

In UAAP Season 69, Aiza Maizo was the backup setter of Denise Tan and was barely playing until her time came in Season 71 when she was promoted to the frontline as the opposite player. During that season, the Golden Tigresses had a huge gap to fill in their lineup as both Venus Bernal and Ging Balse graduated, and Tabaquere filed for personal leave for the whole season. Maizo was awarded as the Best Scorer and Best Attacker during that season, where they settled for bronze.

In the following season, Tabaquero came back and led the team with Maizo to another championship. Unfortunately, due to Tabaquero’s graduation, Maizo failed to carry the team to another championship as they settled for silver in Season 73, where she got the Best Scorer and Best Receiver awards. After her collegiate career, Maizo went on to play for several club teams, winning medals after medals.

Maizo is still active in professional volleyball, playing for the Petro Gazz Angels in the PVL.