THE UST Tiger Spikers absorbed a 25-22, 23-25, 13-25, 21-25 beating against the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles in the UAAP Season 79 men’s volleyball tournament at the Arena in San Juan Saturday.
UST could not contain reigning UAAP Most Valuable Player Marck Espejo who dropped a season-high 27 points for the defending champions.
The Tiger Spikers were within striking distance in the fourth set, 20-21, before Ateneo unleashed a 4-1 run, capped by an Ish Polvoroza hit, to keep an unblemished record.
“Galing ito [mga bata] sa exam week, so ang preparation namin for Ateneo is not as meticulous as kagaya ng huling laro namin ,” UST head coach Odjie Mamon said in an interview.
Ateneo, which led 13-9 in the third set, pulled away for good off a 9-4 spurt to gain a 2-1 set lead.
Manuel Medina paced the Tiger Spikers with 13 points while Jayvee Sumagaysay chipped in nine markers.
The Tiger Spikers, who dropped to fifth place behind a 4-6 card, will face the Far Eastern University on March 25, Saturday, 4 p.m., at the same venue.
