THE UST Tiger Spikers ended their UAAP Season 81 campaign on a high note after fending off the University of the East Red Warriors, 25-19, 25-15, 19-25, 25-23, at the Arena in San Juan Saturday.
The Tiger Spikers finished their lackluster stint at fifth place with a 5-9 win-loss record after making it to the semifinals the past two seasons.
With UST at match point in the fourth frame, rookie Jaron Requinton fired a through-the-block hit to seal the game, 25-23.
“This game sums up our performance sa buong season — we win sets pero once they start to lose their roles, nawawala, just like the third set,” Tiger Spikers head coach Odjie Mamon told the Varsitarian.
Veteran Jayvee Sumagaysay’s attack error in the third canto enabled the Red Warriors to prevent a sweep, 25-19.
Leading 14-11 in the second salvo, UST ignited an 11-4 blitz, capped by Hernel Corda’s block kill for a commanding 2-0 set advantage.
Tiger Spiker Timothy Tajanlangit’s drop shot in the opening set allowed UST to take the upper hand early, 25-19.
UST dominated the block department with 13 rejections against UE’s five.
Team captain Manuel Medina paced the Tiger Spikers with 14 points while Requinton added 13 markers.
Geric Ortega led the Red Warriors with 11 points.
Jayvee Sumagaysay, Timothy Tajanlangit, Juren Buro and Tyrone Carodan all played their last UAAP match and have exhausted their playing years. Faith Yuen Wei N. Ragasa
