THE UST Tiger Spikers began its UAAP warm-up on a high note, registering a pair of straight-set victories in the Fifth Toribio Cup at the University of the East-Recto gym.
Smarting from a painful loss against arch-rival Far Eastern University Tamaraws in the UAAP Season 68 finals, the Tiger Spikers exploited their opponents’ weaknesses to remain unbeaten in the 14-school event.
Against the taller Ateneo de Manila University Blue Spikers, the Tiger Spikers pounced on their foes’ brittle frontline defense for a 25-23, 30-28, 25-13 win last May 14.
Despite trailing, 23-22, in the second set, UST did not blink on defense and offense as open hitters Carlo Lubi, Reny John Balse, and Robertly Boto foiled Ateneo’s bid to salvage the set.
Carrying the momentum to the third set, hard-hitters Boto and Lubi orchestrated a 19-11 lead before wrapping the match in one hour and 46 minutes.
Easy triumph
Rocksteady blocking underscored the Tiger Spikers’ tight defense as they cruised to a 25-14, 25-13, 25-8 victory over the Eulogio “Amang” Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology (EARIST) Red Fox last May 7.
With Boto, Balse and Glenn Boongaling pegging the stops over the net, the Tiger Spikers dictated the tempo of the 58-minute encounter en route to its first win in the tournament.
The España-based spikers had an early cushion as the offensive trio of Boongaling, Balse, and Lubi launched a variety of kills and drop shots to turn a 7-3 margin into a 22-11 bubble in the first set.
EARIST then took the lead early in the second canto, 4-1, only to falter under the Tigers’ defense. From an eight-all deadlock, the Tiger Spikers forced the opposition to misfire at every opportunity, rallying with a deluge of quick sets and combination plays to build a 21-12 advantage.
In the third set, UST zoomed to a 16-6 lead behind Boto, Boongaling, and Balse and never looked back.
Boto topscored for the Tiger Spikers with 18 points, including seven blocks, while Boongaling and Balse added 11 apiece.
Maric Mayuga led EARIST with 10 markers. Anthony Andrew G. Divinagracia
