MANILA, Philippines — University of Santo Tomas’ women’s volleyball roster took another blow with spark plug Xyza Gula set to miss the UAAP Season 87 tournament, which fires off over the weekend at Mall of Asia Arena.

In UST’s bid to return to the finals after last year’s runner-up finish, the team won’t have Jonna Perdido due to a left ACL tear she suffered from last year’s Shakey’s Super League and Gula.

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Days before the opener, the Golden Tigresses announced that they Gula has been ruled out due to a fractured tailbone she sustained last December.

“As of press time and following another x-ray exam and evaluation, the pain has yet to subside, which led Gula [to miss] vital parts of our training,” the team statement read on Monday.

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“With this, it has been decided that she will not be in the UST lineup for the upcoming season because her health and her future as an athlete are far more important than our campaign.”

READ: UAAP: Xyza Gula proves worth for UST Tigresses this season

Despite the awkward fall, Gula had still been part of UST’s season plans, including its Japan training camp, until the re-evaluation.

The 5-foot-4 spiker was vital to the Tigresses’ finals run last year, providing the spark to the team’s bench.

UST, which lost to eventual champion National University in the Season 86 finals, will bank heavily on last year’s top rookie Angge Poyos and expect bench wing spiker Kyla Cordora to step up.

The Tigresses, who ruled the V-League Collegiate Challenge, also have libero captain Detdet Pepito, setter Cassie Carballo, wing spiker Reg Jurado, middle blockers Em Banagua, Bianca Plaza, and rookie Marga Altea as they eye a second consecutive finals this year.