The UST Tiger Spikers upended the De La Salle University Green Spikers in four sets, 25-22, 23-25, 25-22, 25-19, in their UAAP Season 85 men’s volleyball tournament opener at the Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday.
Rookie Josh Ybañez paced the Tiger Spikers with 24 points on 21 attacks and recorded 10 excellent receptions to power UST’s first win.
“Small but terrible siya (Ybañez), tsaka he’s with a big heart—laban talaga,” UST head coach Odjie Mamon said post-game.
Holding onto a match-point advantage, UST committed consecutive errors late in the final frame before Tiger Spiker Rainier Flor converted a through-the-block kill to seal the victory.
The Green Spikers were able to close the gap in the third set and trim UST’s lead to just one, 19-18. However, the Tiger Spikers responded with a 6-3 run to fend off DLSU’s comeback attempt.
UST squandered a 23-21 advantage in the second set, allowing DLSU to score four straight points and tie the game at one set apiece.
UST committed 36, while DLSU only committed 22.
Tiger Spiker Rey De Vega scored 19 points on 14 attacks and three service aces, while tallying 21 excellent receptions and seven excellent digs.
John Ronquillo and Noel Kampton recorded 17 and 10 points for DLSU, respectively.
The UST Tiger Spikers will next face the Far Eastern University Tamaraws on Wednesday, March 1, at the Philsports Arena.
