The UST Tiger Spikers forced a rubber match after shocking the NU Bulldogs via reverse sweep, 21-25, 19-25, 25-22, 25-23, 15-12, in the Game 2 of their best-of-three finals of the V-League Men’s Collegiate Challenge Cup 2022 at the Paco Arena on Wednesday.
After UST being down by two straight sets, the Tiger Spikers capitalized on the 12 unforced errors of NU to extend the match, 25-22.
The Tiger Spikers continued their rally in the fourth set after Rey De Vega’s kill forced a decider, 25-23.
In the fifth set, UST’s defense in the net secured their reverse sweep after NU’s Michaelo Buddin’s kill got rejected by Jay Rack de la Noche and Edlyn Paul Colinares, 15-12.
“Character-building lagi ang five-setter match. So, today is a good day na meron silang natutuhan. Tomorrow, trabaho ulit, aiming to develop ‘yung mga skills nila,” UST head coach Odjie Mamon told the Varsitarian.
UST’s Dux Yambao was named player of the game with eight points and 20 excellent sets while Josh Ybañez and de Vega scored 25 points and 24 points respectively.
Buddin led the Bulldogs with 27 points while Angelo Nicolas Almendras tallied 18 points.
The finals knockout match between the UST Tiger Spikers and NU Bulldogs will be held on Friday, Dec. 2, at the same venue. John Peter L. Cajayon.
