THE UST Junior Tiger Spikers secured a playoff for the last twice-to-beat incentive after dismantling the University of the East Junior Red Warriors, 19-25, 25-18, 25-16, 25-7, in the UAAP Season 81 boys’ volleyball tournament at the Far Eastern University-Diliman Gym Sunday.
The Junior Spikers ended the elimination round tied at second place with FEU with identical 10-4 win-loss slate. UE dropped to fifth spot with an 8-6 card.
UST unloaded a 15-4 blitz to pull away for good in the fourth frame, sealed by Junior Red Warrior Reyden Balean’s attack error, 25-7.
“Nag-relax ang mga players noong bandang first set kaya medyo dumami ang errors nila but they bounced back in the second set and nagtuloy-tuloy hanggang sa fourth set,” Junior Tiger Spikers assistant coach Rommel Abella told the Varsitarian.
Holding a slim one-point lead in the third canto, 12-11, UST went on a 13-5 spurt, capped by Balean’s service error to take a commanding 2-1 set advantage.
With the second set tied at 11-all, the Junior Spikers sizzled with a 14-7 blitz, highlighted by Rey de Vega’s crosscourt kill to equalize the match at one-set apiece.
Junior Red Warrior John Mangahis’ down-the-line hit gave UE the first set, 25-19.
UST’s solid net defense yielded 11 blocks while the UE only had two.
De Vega had a game-high 23 points for the Junior Spikers.
Mangahis, Francis Babon and Dominique Ramirez paced the Junior Red Warriors with nine points apiece.
