After 11 long years, the UST Tiger Spikers are headed back to the UAAP finals after sweeping the FEU Tamaraws, 25-18, 25-22, 25-21, in the Season 85 men’s volleyball tournament knockout semifinal match at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday.
The Tiger Spikers completed the sweep even without coach Odjie Mamon and starter Jay Rack de la Noche, who are both with Philippine team commitments in the South East Asian (SEA) Games.
Up 17-15 in the first set, UST pulled away with an 8-3 spurt capped by an error by FEU’s Benny Martinez to take the first set, 25-18.
Back-to-back FEU errors also gave UST the second set, 25-22.
FEU was leading in the third set, 15-14, when a Josh Ybañez off-the-block kill started a 9-5 UST wave that put the Tiger Spikers up, 23-19.
Rainier Flor and Ybañez scored the last two points UST needed to complete the sweep.
UST’s last finals appearance was in Season 74 when the team settled for silver after faltering against FEU.
UST assistant coach Benjamin Mafe, who acted as the head tactician in the crucial match in the absence of Mamon, said the Tiger Spikers’ six-day layoff allowed the team to execute better.
“Naging advantage sa amin ngayon, napag-aralan namin ang weaknesses na naging strength namin ‘yon, nag-add rin kami ng skills, at the same time nakatulong sa amin ‘yung guidance ni coach Odjie,” Mafe said after the game.
Gboy de Vega led UST with 16 points built on 14 attacks and 2 aces.
Ybañez tallied 15 markers, while Flor and John Dedoroy scored 11 points apiece.
Mark Calado was the only FEU player in double digits with 12.
The Tamaraws, who toppled the DLSU Green Archers in the first stepladder match, capped off their season with a 9-7 record, which is good for bronze.
The UST Tiger Spikers will face the NU Bulldogs, who swept the elimination round, in the finals.
Game 1 of the best-of-three finals will be on Wednesday, May 10, 2 p.m., at the Mall of Asia Arena.
