Jan. 8, 10:30 p.m. – THE TIGER Spikers clobbered a pesky Far Eastern University squad, 14-25, 24-26, 25-21, 25-21, 15-11, while the Lady Spikers bowed down to defending champions De La Salle University in a nail-biting, fifth-set match, 25-20, 22-25, 25-26, 19-25, 15-17, in the first round of UAAP volleyball eliminations at The Arena in San Juan earlier today.
The Tiger Spikers topped the UAAP standings with a 6-1 win-loss record, while the Lady Spikers placed fourth with a 4-3 slate.
Mark Gil Alfafara sizzled with 16 points, while Christian Arbasto contributed 15 markers to lead the men’s team.
“Paakyat ang level ng laro nila despite losing in the first two sets. Kailangan ‘di lang namin ito ma-maintain, dapat tumaas pa ang laro,” coach Emil Lontoc said.
In the fifth set, stats leader John Depante gave UST an early 10-8 lead. Ian Depamaylo tried to keep the Tamaraws close, but his back-to-back errors allowed UST to surge ahead, 14-10. A solid block by team captain Jayson Ramos sealed the match for UST, 15-11.
“‘Yung effort namin nung Christmas break, talagang nagbunga. Siguro dapat i-angat pa namin ang mga laro namin sa next round,” Ramos said.
Rodolfo Labrador and Arvin Avila topscored for FEU with 16 points apiece.
In the distaff side, the Lady Archers kept their unblemished record while ending the Lady Spikers’ four-game winning streak.
Maika Ortiz sizzled on a losing effort with 18 points, while Maruja Banaticla tossed in 14 markers. La Salle’s Abigail Maraño and Cha Cruz chipped in 18 and 17 points, respectively.
“Hindi para sa amin itong larong ito. Hindi maganda ‘yung laro ni Maru (Banaticla) tapos I missed the services of Jaime Morado due to sickness,” head coach Odjie Mamon said. “We executed well most of the time, pero maganda kasi ‘yung adjsutment ng kabilang team. I hope next round mag-mature na yung mga players.”
Ortiz’s off-speed attacks lifted the Lady Spikers to an early 5-0 lead in the last frame before Maraño’s drop shots reduced the gap to two points, 10-8. UST countered right away as Ortiz’s running spike pierced through La Salle’s defensive wall to give her team a four-point cushion, 12-8.
But Cruz answered with back-to-back kills to tie the count at 13-all. Carmela Garbin committed a service error that tied the game at 15-apiece. But Michelle Gumabao scored the last two points, including the match point, 15-17. Alexis U. Cerado and Chenny V. Ramos
