Feb. 21, 2015, 5:08 p.m. – THE UST Tiger Spikers snapped
the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Spikers’ 10-game winning streak in five
sets, 25-15, 22-25, 25-23, 17-25, 15-13, to cap the elimination round of the
UAAP Season 77 men’s volleyball tournament at the Arena in San Juan Saturday.
The Tiger Spikers now share identical 11-3 win-loss record
with Ateneo. But UST settled for the number two slot because of Ateneo’
superior quotient.
UST could have finished the elimination as the top seed
heading into the playoffs had it won the match in four sets.
Ateneo was leading in the deciding set, 13-12. But the Tiger
Spikers held on as Jason Sarabia rejected Ateneo’s Rex Intal to put UST on
match point, 14-13. Blue Spiker Ishmael Rivera’s crosscourt attack went out to
give the win to UST.
Mark Alfafara powered UST with 22 points, while team captain
Romnick Rico added 17 markers.
“Itong game is a learning match. Mataas yung learning
curve. Ngayon di naman siguro masamang mag-asam ng finals,” head coach
Odjie Mamon said.
UST will face two-time defending champion National
University in the Final Four with a twice-to-beat advantage. Schedule is yet to
be announced. Delfin Ray M. Dioquino
