Jan. 31, 2015, 6:42 p.m. – THE UST Tiger Spikers missed
the services of their key players and succumbed to Adamson University, 25-23,
20-25, 20-25, 17-25, in the UAAP Season 77 men’s volleyball tournament at the
Arena in San Juan Saturday.
Team captain Romnick Rico, Patrick Balse and Paul Castillo
could not join game earlier because of “disciplinary actions.”
Tiger Spikers head coach Odjie Mamon declined to give
further information on the suspension pending the results of an investigation.
“Under investigation pa kaya I won’t divulge about the
issue,” he said. “Ang recommendation ko they’ll be taken off the team because
it is their last chance and they broke ‘yung last chance ng binigay nating
concession.”
UST, now with a 7-3 win-loss card, lost their hold of the
top spot after absorbing their first loss in the second round.
The Tiger Spikers won the opening set despite missing half
of their starters, but they committed costly errors in the remainder of the
match. They committed a total of 38 errors compared to Adamson’s 24.
The Tigers failed to contain Adamson’s Bryan Saraza and
Michael Sudaria, who combined for 30 points.
UST only trailed by one point in the third frame, 18-19,
when the Soaring Falcons powered a 6-2 run behind Sarmiento’s back-to-back
points to give Adamson a 2-1 set advantage.
Mark Alfafara carried the load for the UST with 23 markers,
but lacked support from his teammates as he was the only one who scored in
double-digits.
The Tiger Spikers will face University of the East on
Saturday, 8 a.m., at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum. Delfin Ray M. Dioquino
