THE UST Tiger Spikers escaped a much-improved University of the East Red Warriors in five sets, 28-26, 19-25, 23-25, 25-23, 15-7, in the UAAP Season 79 men’s volleyball tournament at the Arena in San Juan Wednesday.
Faced with a 1-2 set disadvantage, UST broke a 23-all deadlock in the fourth set following a Red Warrior error and Manuel Medina’s ace to force a decider.
UE led 4-3 at the start of the final set before the Tiger Spikers erupted with an 11-3 run to arrive at match point, 14-7. Medina delivered anew down the stretch with an off-the-block winner.
“[Umabot kami ng five sets kasi] ‘yung execution ng plays namin ay off and I think ‘yung setter namin ay wala sa focus. Buti na lang madaming errors ang UE,” UST head coach Odjie Mamon said.
Four Tiger Spikers scored in double figures as UST capitalized on the Red Warriors’ 40 unforced errors.
Medina led UST with 20 points while team captain Arnold Bautista and Jayvee Sumagaysay added 16 and 13, respectively.
UE booked the second and third sets after UST committed 16 errors during that stretch.
Team captain Edward Camposano paced UE with 32 points.
The Tiger Spikers will face the University of the Philippines on Feb. 19, Sunday, at the same venue.
