THE UST Junior Tiger Spikers secured a playoff for the last twice-to-beat advantage after surviving the University of the East Junior Red Warriors, 25-17, 18-25, 21-25, 28-26, 15-12, in the UAAP Season 80 boys’ volleyball tournament at the Arena in San Juan Wednesday.
UST ended the elimination round at third place with an 11-3 slate. The Junior Spikers will face the loser of the FEU-NU match that both have 11-2 records to determine the second seed.
The Tiger Spikers overcame a one-point deficit in the final set with four consecutive points iced by an attack error on the Red Warriors, 15-12.
Tied at 26-all in the fourth frame, team captain Lorenz Señoron and Rey de Vega hammered back-to-back hits to force a deciding fifth set.
“Simula’t sapul, constant reminders sa mga bata na kailangang-kailangan natin ang larong ‘to. It just so happened na noong fourth set, sa kanila na rin nanggaling ang initiative na kailangan nating manalo,” UST assistant coach Rommel Abella said.
Red Warrior Shaun Ledesma went for a crosscourt kill to give the Junior Warriors a 2-1 lead, 25-21.
UE pulled away in the second set with a 12-5 blitz before Ledesma scored a down-the-line kill, 25-18.
Jaron Requinton’s combination play capped off an 18-7 run by UST to get an early 1-0 lead, 25-17.
Señoron had a season-high 18 points while Requinton dropped 15 markers.
Ledesma led all scorers with 23 points.
The battle for the twice-to-beat advantage is on Nov. 17, Friday, 8 a.m., at the same venue.
