THE UST Tiger Spikers fell short against the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles, 22-25, 25-22, 31-29, 25-13, in the 1st Premier Volleyball League at the Arena in San Juan Monday.
The Eagles led 16-10 in the fourth set before going for a 9-3 run capped by Gian Glorioso’s block to boot out the Tiger Spikers.
UST threatened to extend the third set, but Ateneo broke a 29-all tie with a down-the-line kill from Marck Espejo. A UST error gave the Eagles a 2-1 advantage.
“Naubos mga player ko. Sina Josh (Umandal), napagod na tapos pati ‘yung recieve ko at ‘yung pasa namin, hindi na ganun ka-perpekto,” UST head coach Odjie Mamon said.
The Eagles ignited a 13-5 blitz to surge, 17-9, in the second frame. UST tried to close in but Espejo went for a through-the-block kill to equalize, 25-22.
With UST at set point, Joshua Umandal scored on a combination play to end the first, 25-22.
The Eagles unloaded 49 kills on the Tiger Spikers, 20 coming from Espejo.
UST scattered 39 errors while Ateneo had 27.
Espejo led all scorers with 23 points while Glorioso had 11.
Umandal led UST with 20 markers.
The Tiger Spikers will face the National University Bulldogs in the battle for third place on Oct. 11, Wednesday, 8 a.m., at the same venue.
