THE UST Tiger Spikers handed the Ateneo Blue Eagles their first loss in the 2023 V-League Men’s Collegiate Challenge after prevailing in four sets, 25-20, 25-23, 22-25, 25-15, at the Paco Arena on Sunday, Sept. 10.
Up by one in the fourth frame, 11-10, the Tiger Spikers sealed the game with a 14-5 blast that secured them the top spot and their fifth straight win in the tournament, 25-15.
UST rose to a league-best 5-1 win-loss record, while Ateneo dropped to a 4-1 slate for the second spot.
With UST’s two-sets-to-none advantage, the Blue Eagles shook off their jitters and extended the match after Kennedy Batas unleashed an off-the-block kill to keep Ateneo alive, 25-22.
With UST at set point, 24-21, Ateneo put up a scare after a Jian Salarzon crosscourt kill and a Gboy de Vega attack error.
However, De Vega made up for his error, converting a crosscourt kill to give UST a commanding two-sets-to-none lead, 25-23.
The Tiger Spikers easily captured the first set after Salarzon committed a service error, 25-20.
UST head coach Odjie Mamon told the Varsitarian that he would leave for Hangzhou, China on Sept. 16 and would miss the team in the semifinals.
“Happy ako sa naging game namin today, we had fewer errors,” he said. “Coming into the semis, I’m going to leave a program, and our immediate goal right now is to increase the base number of core players.”
UST and Ateneo committed 27 errors apiece.
Josh Ybañez led the Tiger Spikers anew with 23 points, while Rainier Flor and de Vega added 13 and 12 points, respectively.
Ateneo’s Kennedy Batas steered the Blue Eagles with 16 markers, while Amil Pacinio and Salarzon chipped in 14 and 13 markers, respectively.
The UST Tiger Spikers will complete their elimination-round campaign against the San Beda University Red Spikers at the same venue on Friday, Sept. 15, at 10 a.m. Emmanuel John B. Abris
