UST's Judy Ann Caballejo (center) tries to keep the ball in play in their duel with Adamson University in Tuesday’s Game 2 of the Shakey’s V-League championship series at The Arena. (Photo by MARIANNE BERMUDEZ)

University of Santo Tomas battled back from an opening set setback and then hung tough in the final two frames Tuesday night to beat Adamson University, 23-25, 25-12, 27-25, 25-19, for a sweep of their Shakey’s V-League second conference championship series at The Arena in San Juan City.

The Tigresses were put to great test right on the opening set, but managed to pull through to complete a sweep of the twin tiles of the sixth season – thanks largely to another brilliant effort by league and finals Most Valuable Player Aiza Maizo

With Maizo rising up to the occasion time and again, the Tigresses were able to repulse the spirited challenge of the Lady Falcons especially in the fourth to make history as the only team to win five titles since the league was established in 2004.

“Our victories this year was a testament to our hard work and teamwork,” said UST coach Shaq Delos Santos in Filipino.

“We dedicate this win to coach August (Sta. Maria). He was responsible for where the team is now today,” added Delos Santos who replaced Sta. Maria, who left the squad in 2007 after suffering a stroke.

In a fitting performance that befits her awards Maizo finished with team-high 16 points, including some key hits in the fourth set where the Tigresses fought back from a 0-8 deficit.

A big explosion in the final set was all UST needed to wrap up their best-of-three title series, 2-0.

With the Tigresses trailing, 3-9, in the fourth set Maizo’s hit sparked a 19-5 salvo to all but seal the win, 21-14.

Rookie Maru Banaticla and the battle-tested guest player Rox Pimentel also provided the telling blows as UST derailed Adamson’s bid of securing a second title.

Banaticla was at her best, churning out 16 points while the 35-year-old Pimentel made dropped nine hits for UST which closed out the match in 1:46.

A former national player, the 5-foot-9 Maizo became the second Tigress to win the MVP award after Venus Bernal and Mary Jane Balse, who won the honor twice – in 2004 and the previous conference.

“I didn’t expect to win two awards, and then win a championship for the school,” said Maizo, a native of Iloilo, who became the first player to win both the league and finals MVP.

Other individual awardees in the event backed by Mikasa, Accel, OraCare and Mighty Bond, include Adamson’s Angela Benting (Best Scorer) and Paulina Soriano (Best Blocker), College of St. Benilde’s Giza Yumang (Best Attacker), FEU’s Cherry Vivas (Best Server) and April Jose (Best Setter), and Adamson’s Lizlee Ann Gata (Best Raceiver), and Ateneo-OraCare’s Stephanie Gabriel (Best Digger).

Earlier, Far Eastern University recorded its best finish in the league by beating reigning five-time NCAA champion San Sebastian College, 25-20, 10-25, 25-11, 21-25, 15-10, to similarly sweep their best-of-three series for third place.

The Lady Tams took Game One via a similar five set, 25-22, 25-13, 20-25, 12-25, 15-13, win last Sunday.