THE UST Tiger Spikers picked up their second-straight win after fending off the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, 26-24, 25-27, 25-23, 25-13, in the UAAP Season 81 men’s volleyball tournament at the Arena in San Juan Sunday.
Leading 10-4 in the fourth frame, the Tiger Spikers fired 15-9 blast, capped by team captain Manuel Medina’s down-the-line kill to seal the deal for UST.
“Intensity of the [early part] of the match was lacking but they led the pace in the third and fourth set. Overall, the team improved in terms of coordination, hindi lang puro defense, ” Tiger Spikers head coach Odjie Mamon said.
Trailing 16-19 in the third salvo, UST sparked a 9-5 run, topped by Medina’s quick kill for a commanding 2-1 set advantage.
A UST error allowed the Fighting Maroons to take the second set, 27-25.
Rookie Jaron Requinton’s drop ball ended a two-point swing by the Tiger Spikers that broke a 25-all deadlock in the opening canto, 26-24.
UST outscored UP in the blocking department, 15-4.
Medina led all scorers with 19 markers while Joshua Umandal and Jayvee Sumagysay added 16 points apiece for UST.
Mark Millette paced the Fighting Maroons with 17 markers.
The Tiger Spikers improved to a 2-1 win-loss card, while UP remained winless in three outings.
UST will next face the Far Eastern University Tamaraws on March 2, Saturday, 8 a.m., at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
