UST ROLLED down the curtain in this year’s UAAP volleyball tournament with split performances as the Tiger Spikers grabbed a fourth straight title while the Lady Spikers failed to keep their crown this Season 73.
The Tiger Spikers prevailed against rivals Far Eastern University (FEU) in a pulsating three-setter, 29-27, 26-24, 25-23, in Game 2 of the best-of-three series at The Arena in San Juan last February 26.
Coach Emil Lontoc had been confident early on of winning a fourth straight championship on the occasion of UST’s Quadricentennial.
“That was our goal. They [Tiger Spikers] had a high morale playing it today,” coach Lontoc said.
The España-based tossers found themselves chasing after FEU who led by as much four points in the action-packed second set, 17-21.
But UST struck back with Jayson Ramos’ superb performance near the net to give the Tiger Spikers a boost as he whammed down quick hits backed by a couple of blocks for a 5-0 run in the second frame, 22-21.
And then again, the grizzly FEU team would pull off momentary advantages against UST in the final canto with the frontline attacks of FEU trio Pitrus de Ocampo, Arvin Avila and Roland Tonquin. But Tiger Spikers’ Ramos and Harby Ilano bounced back with hits followed by Kerr Ucang’s service ace to trim the lead down to one, 20-21.
Ramos sealed the win with a winning ace to close the match for UST in the third set, 25-23.
Ramos was named Finals MVP and chipped in 11 points for UST along with Salvador Depante, who added 11. Nestor Molate led FEU with 11 markers.
John Paul Torres bagged three special awards for UST in the men’s division as he went home with the MVP plum, Best Scorer and Best Spiker honors while teammate Paul Jan Doloiras was donned with the Best Receiver award.
Tables turned
In contrast to their male counterparts, UST Lady Spikers succumbed to their perennial rival De La Salle University in Game 2 of their best-of-three finals, 18-25, 17-25, 28-26, to settle for a runner-up finish.
“What we have achieved is not bad at all (given) the fact that our team lost a lot of important players,” coach Cesael De Los Santos said. “With what they’ve done, they are still the champion team for me.”
Eyeing for a rubber match, UST opened the third canto banking on Aiza Maizo’s down-the-line hit solidified by Judy Caballejo’s corner attack, 16-15, while La Salle was having a hard time on their offensive attacks. With 24-19 in favor of the Espana-based volleybelles, they were expected to clinch the set. But La Salle made a strong comeback to win, 24-25.
Maruja Banaticla played the hero’s role with her one-man block at Jaqueline Alarca, 25-25. La Salle immediately retaliated with Alarca’s tip, 25-26. Maika Ortiz offset things with her signature quick attack, 26-26, but the game eventually slipped of UST’s hands that paved its way to La Salle’s victory.
“The game just collapsed and they [Lady Spikers] did not handle the game well,”said De los Santos. “Maybe, it’s [game] not really for us.”
Prior to the intense match-up, team captain Aiza Maizo’s volleyball prowess surfaced and pocketed two individual awards for the league—Best Scorer and Best Setter.
Recently, the Lady Spikers have withdrawn themselves from the Shakey’s V-league season 8 first conference come this April for them to focus on academics.
isn’t it that kapitana maizo’s awards are best scorer and BEST RECEIVER??