The UST Tiger Spikers absorbed their first loss in the UAAP Season 85 men’s volleyball tournament after bowing down in four sets to the defending champions, the National University Bulldogs, 20-25, 19-25, 25-19, 21-25, at the Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday.
With UST down two sets to none, the Tiger Spikers used an 8-2 run in the third set capped off by Rainier Flor’s block kill and an NU attack error to stay alive in the match, 25-19.
After holding on to a slim one-point lead in the fourth frame, 18-17, the Tiger Spikers committed five crucial attack errors that helped the Bulldogs secure the win, 25-21.
The Tiger Spikers were trailing midway through the second frame, 14-9, until a run capped by Jay De la Noche’s crosscourt kill cut NU’s lead to two, 16-14. However, the Bulldogs rallied with a 9-5 run to go up two sets to none, 25-19.
Holding set point in the opening salvo, Angelo Almendras’s crosscourt gave NU a one-set advantage, 25-20.
“We were late in catching up to them during the match. And I think we were ill-prepared coming into this game,” UST head coach Odjie Mamon told the Varsitarian. “‘Nung natututo na sila during the third set, medyo maganda-ganda, nahabol. Kinapos lang.”
The Tiger Spikers committed 27 errors, while the Bulldogs committed 25.
Ybañez paced UST with 20 points, 13 excellent digs, and 12 excellent receptions, while De la Noche contributed 14 markers.
Bulldogs Buddin and Almendras scored 21 and 17 points, respectively.
The Tiger Spikers slid to a 2-1 win-loss record.
The UST Tiger Spikers will next face the Adamson University Soaring Falcons on March 8, Wednesday, 10 a.m., at the Philsports Arena.
