EXHAUSTION took its toll on Tiger Spikers Henry Pecaña and Harby Ilano, denying UST of a third consecutive title in the UAAP beach volleyball competition.
Playing their game of the day, the duo succumbed to a well-rested tandem from the Far Eastern University (FEU), 12-21, 16-21, in their championship encounter at the University of the East-Caloocan last September 18.
“Our minds were set to win the game, but our bodies were just too tired,” Ilano explained.
The UST pair appeared out-of-sync in the entire match dropping their first two sets, against FEU’s Nestor Molate and Arvin Avila.
Unforced errors from the defending champions gave FEU a six-point edge, 7-13, early in the opening set. Pecaña gave the Morayta-based tandem a slight scare with his back-to-back long shots, but UST eventually surrendered the set after a solid hit from Avila.
A series of drops and a clever placement shot from Molate, Season 73 MVP, opened the second set with a three-point lead, 4-7, in favor of FEU.
Ilano caught FEU’s defense off-guard with his own placement shots and kills, allowing UST to inch closer, 13-15. But Pecaña’s service errors killed UST’s momentum. Avila’s kill that went through Ilano’s defense sealed the game for FEU.
Earlier, UST deprived second-seeded Adamson University of a championship berth after clobbering the tandem of Gilbert Longavela and Hendrix Competente, 14-21, 21-18, 15-6.
In the first match of the semi finals, UST slammed the door on the University of the Philippinesin a three-setter, 21-11, 17-21, 15-11.
Fourth place anew
In the distaff side, the Lady Spikers settled for another fourth-place finish following a third-set collapse against the dauntless De La Salle University, 19-21, 20-8, 9-15.
The pesky pair of three-time beach volleyball standout Judy Caballejo and Lady Spiker Jane Gonzales bounced back from a close opening-set encounter by demolishing La Salle’s Charleen Cruz and Amanda Villanueva in the second frame.
UST’s gutsy comeback was staged by Gonzales who unleashed a series of long shots for a 7-4 advantage. The España-based duo rushed to a 16-7 lead toward the end of the set to eventually tie the score at 1-all.
UST’s offensive disarray came after Caballejo and Gozales stumbled with their attack errors in the decision set, giving the opponents an easy advantage, 4-7. A placement shot from Caballejo broke the ice for UST, 6-9, but Villanueva fired her feisty spikes that eventually gave them the victory, 9-15.
Last September 11, the Lady Spikers turned the tables against De La Salle that earned them the third spot at the end of the elimination round, 27-25, 21-17. Anne Marie Carmela L. Dayauon
