The UST Junior Tiger Spikers bagged their first UAAP juniors’ volleyball championship Monday after repulsing the FEU Baby Tamaraws in a five-set nail-biter, 18-25, 22-25, 25-22, 25-22, 15-5.
Leading 14-5 in the fifth set, Junior Spiker Lance Caparas’ soft touch sealed the game and the championship.
With the game tied at 20-all in the fourth set, UST fired a 5-2 blitz capped by an Efraem Dimaculangan crosscourt hit to force a deciding set.
UST overcame a five-point deficit with a 10-2 run capped by Dimaculangan’s running hit, 25-22.
“We started slow, ‘di kami nakapagwarm-up nang maayos. ‘Yung warm-up na gusto namin ‘di namin nakuha. And it’s a good thing nakabawi tayo coming into the third set,” UST assistant coach Rommel Abella said.
A UST error gave FEU a 2-0 advantage in the second set.
Leading 24-18 in the opening canto, FEU drew first blood after a Mark Calado kill.
Dimaculangan topped UST with 13 points while Jaron Requinton chipped in 10 markers.
UST team captain Lorenz Señoron, Rey De Vera and Requinton were named best middle blocker, best server and best opposite hitter, respectively.
Junior Spiker CJ Segui was named Rookie of the Year while Requinton bagged the Finals MVP award.
