THE FAR Eastern University Tamaraws handed the UST Tiger Spikers their fifth loss, 21-25, 26-25, 29-31, 21-25, in the UAAP Season 78 men’s volleyball tournament at the San Juan Arena Saturday, Feb. 20.
The Tamaraws displayed impressive blocking, tallying 16 block points, including two in their game-winning 5-0 run.
Anthony Lemuel Arbasto’s attack gave UST a 21-20 lead in the tightly contested fourth set, but the Tiger Spikers failed to force a deciding set.
Tamaraws Jude Garcia and Gregorio Dolor combined for 31 points while their teammates, John Paul Bugaoan and Richard Solis, added 10 points apiece.
“It’s not really the blocking [of FEU] but our lack of blocking. Disappointed ako sa performance ng dalawang starters,” UST head coach Odjie Mamon told the Varsitarian.
UST scored just seven points despite 50 successful block attempts.
Three FEU errors and two Medina kills forced a third set deuce as UST even took a 28-27 advantage.
A Bugaoan service error tied the score at 29-all, but consecutive block points from Garcia prevented a UST comeback.
A Juren Buro block and a Timothy Tajanlangit kill from a free ball saved the Tiger Spikers from a meltdown when the Tamaraws rallied a 13-5 run and forced a deuce in the second set.
UST was trailing 17-18 in the first set but the Tamaraws clinched it with a 7-4 run.
The Tiger Spikers will face the Adamson University next Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
