AN ERROR-plagued UST Tiger Spikers failed to clinch an outright Final Four berth following a 25-23, 25-19, 25-17 loss to the Adamson University Soaring Falcons in the UAAP Season 79 men’s volleyball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena Sunday.
The Tiger Spikers committed 35 errors en route to their seventh loss in 13 outings.
Despite this, UST still has a firm grip of the fourth place and are assured of a playoff for a semis spot.
Adamson had a slim 16-13 lead in the third set before closing the game on a 9-4 rally capped by George Labang Jr.’s off-the-block hit.
“Wala sila sa wisyo, they’re not in the game at all,” UST head coach Odjie Mamon told the Varsitarian.
The Tiger Spikers cut a six-point deficit to two, 15-17, but committed four errors in an 8-3 Adamson run as the Falcons earned a 2-0 set lead.
Dave Pletado and John Yude led Adamson with nine points apiece.
The first set saw a 23-all deadlock until a down-the-line hit from Falcon Jerome Sarmiento and a mishit from UST’s Jerico Jose paved way for Adamson to draw first blood.
Team captain Arnold Bautista paced for the Tiger Spikers with seven markers.
UST may still enter the Final Four if the fifth-seeded University of the Philippines lose to Adamson on April 5.
The Tiger Spikers will face Far Eastern University on April 8, Saturday, 10 a.m., at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
