THE UST Growling Tigers succumbed to the FEU Tamaraws in five sets, 25-23, 16-25, 25-19, 24-26, 15-8, in Game 1 of the 2025 V-League Collegiate Challenge best-of-three semifinals at the FilOil Centre on Wednesday, Oct. 1.
Jan Macam and Al-Bukharie Sali led UST with 14 points apiece in the loss.
“Nag-collapse ‘yong communication namin kaya may mga lapses sa galaw ng bawat isa,” UST assistant coach Benjamin Mape told the Varsitarian after the game. “Pero may nakita naman kaming brighter future as we prepare sa UAAP.”
In the elimination round, the Golden Spikers finished as the No. 2 seed with a 5-2 slate, while the Tamaraws placed third at 4-3.
UST trailed in attacks, 61-54, while committing three more errors than FEU with 29.
The Golden Spikers clung to a slim edge late in the tight-opening set following a Dux Yambao joust on Amet Bituin, 18-16.
However, FEU bounced back and capitalized on UST’s miscues, including a Gboy de Vega attack error, to take the opener, 25-23.
UST came alive to open the second set, racing to a 9-2 start courtesy of Trevor Valera’s crosscourt kill.
From there, the Golden Spikers kept FEU at bay, punctuating the frame with an Al-Bukharie Sali service ace and a Macam back-row kill to even the match, 25-16.
Tied at 15 in the third, UST allowed the Tamaraws to pull away with a 6-1 run capped by a Dryx Saavedra through-the-block hit to make it 21-16.
FEU then held firm as Luis Miguel’s attack buried UST’s comeback hopes, 25-19.
Ybañez, who barely played in the first two sets, rallied UST with a crosscourt kill that gave the Golden Spikers a 19-15 cushion. FEU stormed back with a 9-5 run, tying it at 24-all off a Bituin down-the-line hit, but a Valera quick and a Ybañez kill forced a decider, 26-24.
The Tamaraws took control in the fifth, fending off any comeback hopes from UST as Espartero sealed the win, 15-8.
De Vega and Valera added 13 and 12 points, respectively, while Ybañez chipped in eight.
Saavedra paced FEU with 19 points, while Bituin added 16 as they took a 1-0 advantage.
UST will attempt to extend the series against the Tamaraws in Game 2 on Thursday, Oct. 2, at the same venue.
