4 September 2014, 5:59 p.m. – TOP-SEEDED UST Tiger Spikers are back in the finals after sweeping Far Eastern University, 21-15, 21-14, in the Final Four of the UAAP season 77 men’s beach volleyball tournament at the University of the East-Caloocan sandcourt, Thursday.
Both teams tied early in the second set, UST began outplaying the fourth-ranked Tamaraws with Mark Alfafara’s quick setting off a 4-0 run to give UST a 13-9 lead.
FEU tried to stop the bleeding by answering with an attack from reserve Joshua Barrica but Alfafara and Kris Guzman delivered back-to-back hits to open up a 15-10 lead for the Tiger Spikers.
UST arrived at match point with another quick hit from Alfafara, who capped his dominant performance with a block to power the Tiger Spikers to their second straight finals appearance.
Despite the absence of head coach Emil Lontoc, who missed the game due to fever, the Tiger Spikers stuck to their game plan.
“Ang bilin sa amin ni coach, laruin lang daw namin ‘yung laban. ‘Wag naming intindihin ‘yung mga sinasabi ng tao sa labas, focus lang sa game plan,” Alfafara said.
The Tiger Spikers will take on defending champion National University in a finals rematch of Season 76 in a best-of-three series. The Lady Spikers, who hold a thrice-to-beat advantage, will face the winner of the La Salle-Adamsnon match-up on Saturday, September 6, also at the UE-Caloocan sandcourts .Angelica P. Abello
