THE UST Tiger Spikers absorbed a 25-21, 16-25, 17-25, 18-25 loss from the National University Bulldogs in the UAAP Season 79 men’s volleyball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Saturday.
After winning the first set, the Tiger Spikers failed to contain Bryan Bagunas who rallied the Bulldogs back with his game-high 23 points.
Down two points in the fourth set, 13-15, the Bulldogs uncorked an 8-1 blitz to take the 21-16 lead.
Jerico Jose tried spark a UST comeback with an off-the-block hit and a dump but NU scored four straight points for the win.
“’Yung fourth set medyo nag-rally pero error from service kaya lumayo na sila nang husto,” UST head coach Odjie Mamon told the Varsitarian.
NU led early in the third set following a 6-1 run, 13-6, and never looked back. After committing a service error, 23-17, the Bulldogs fired back-to-back hits to take a 2-1 set advantage.
Three Tiger Spikers scored in double digits with Jose and Manuel Medina chipping in 12 points apiece but UST produced only 38 attack points compared to NU’s 56.
UST will try to end its three-game skid against the University of the East on March 15, Wednesday, at the Arena in San Juan.
“Must-win ‘yung [laban sa UE] kasi doon kami kukuha ng points para sa target namin [na Final Four,]” Mamon added. With reports from Deejae S.Dumlao and Randell Angelo B. Ritumalta
