THE UST Junior Golden Spikers ended their UAAP Season 86 boys’ volleyball campaign in fourth place for the third straight season after succumbing to the Nazareth School of National University Bullpups, 25-23, 21-25, 21-25, 17-25, in their semifinal matchup at the Filoil EcoOil Center on Friday, Feb. 2.
With the first set tied at 10-all, UST blasted away with a 12-6 run capped by a Joncriz Ayco drop ball, 22-16.
The Bullpups inched closer to UST’s lead, 24-23, but Ayco stopped NSNU’s momentum and fired an off-the-block kill to get the first-set win.
However, that was all for UST. The Bullpups retaliated in the remaining sets en route to their fourth straight finals berth.
With the second frame tied at 14-all, the Bullpups went on an 11-7 run to tie the game at one set apiece, 25-21.
NSNU continued its carnage in the third set with another 25-21 set-win.
In the fourth salvo, UST’s main libero Junlie Tehones hurt his ankle and had to step out of the game up until the end of the match.
It continued going downhill from there for the Junior Golden Spikers committing numerous errors and faulty first balls that hindered them from setting up plays.
Three consecutive points by Dave Lardizabal sent NSNU to match point, 24-17, before his fellow Bullpup Kobe Aca-ac went for a game-sealing combination play that buried UST for good.
“Lumaban naman ‘yong mga bata,” UST head coach Clarence Esteban told the Varsitarian. “Ang naging problema lang e nawala ‘yong bigat sa services namin at talagang lumitaw ‘yong composure ng kalaban.”
“Grateful ako na umabot kami ng Final Four given na sobrang daming naging adjustments sa team. After this, ipagpapatuloy lang ‘yong training, and sasali sa mga iba’t ibang tournaments para mas mahasa pa ‘yong mga bata.”
UST finished the elimination round with an 8-6 win-loss record and did not win against NSNU this season.
The NSNU Bullpups will face the UE Junior Warriors for their finals matchup at the same venue on Feb. 6, Tuesday, at 1 p.m.
