THE UST Tiger Spikers came up short in Game 1 of the 2023 V-League Collegiate Challenge finals, losing a nailbiter against the DLSU Green Spikers, 21-25, 25-16, 21-25, 25-22, 8-15, at the Paco Arena on Wednesday, Sept. 27.
The Tiger Spikers broke a 17-all deadlock in the fourth set with an 8-5 blast to force a decider, 25-22.
Leading by one point in the fifth set, 6-5, the Green Spikers tried to pull away with an 8-1 spurt capped by three consecutive Noel Kampton kills to send La Salle to match point.
UST scored back-to-back points courtesy of a Neil Catap off-the-block kill and a DLSU error, but Kampton thwarted the Tiger Spikers’ comeback attempt after hammering a game-winning crosscourt kill.
The Tiger Spikers committed a whopping 35 errors, seven more than DLSU’s 28.
“We wouldn’t be in this situation if our serving game and ‘yung defense namin sa net is on point,” UST head coach Odjie Mamon told the Varsitarian. “Mayroon lang off today.”
La Salle used a 5-1 blitz to win the third frame, 25-21.
During the first set, a Gboy de Vega attack error sent La Salle to set point before Ronquillo went for a quick attack to draw first blood, 25-21.
UST broke a 7-all deadlock with a dominant 18-9 run to equalize the game at one set apiece.
Josh Ybañez paced the Tiger Spikers with 23 points, while De Vega scored 19 points.
Kampton and Ronquillo had similar scores of 23 and 19 markers, respectively, to steer La Salle’s win.
The Tiger Spikers will try to force a do-or-die as they face the Green Spikers in Game 2 of their best-of-three finals series at the same venue on Friday, Sept. 29, at 4 p.m. J.G.V. Ignacio
