THE UST Tiger Spikers swept the San Beda University Red Spikers, 25-19, 25-17, 25-23, to end their 2023 V-League Men’s Collegiate Challenge elimination-round campaign on a high note at the Paco Arena on Friday, Sept. 15.
UST kept its hold of top spot with a 6-1 win-loss slate, while San Beda remained winless after six matches.
With the score tied at 23-all in the third frame, the Tiger Spikers completed the sweep after a Gboy de Vega crosscourt kill and a game-sealing Trevor Valera block, 25-23.
In the second salvo, UST made quick work of San Beda, igniting a 5-1 run to pin the Red Spikers two-set- to-none, 25-17.
UST pulled away with an 8-2 blitz capped by a Josh Ybañez down-the-line kill to take the first set, 25-19.
Ybañez paced the Tiger Spikers anew with 18 points. He was the match’s lone player who scored in double digits.
San Beda’s Andrei Bakil steered the Red Spikers with only nine points.
“Magandang preparation tournament ito kasi mataas na level na ito so hindi na pwedeng basta lang sumali. We have to prepare lalo na ngayong semifinals,” Mamon told the Varsitarian.
The top-seeded Tiger Spikers will head on to the semifinals without Mamon as he will be spearheading the men’s volleyball national team in the 19th Asian Games.
UST will face the fourth-seeded team in the semifinals at the same venue on Wednesday, Sept. 20. Jose Gabriel V. Ignacio
