THE UST Golden Spikers fell short against the undefeated FEU Tamaraws, 28-26, 21-25, 21-25, 25-21, 15-12, in the UAAP Season 86 men’s volleyball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday, March 3.
This marked UST’s second straight loss as the Golden Spikers dropped to a 2-2 win-loss record, while the Tamaraws remained atop the standings with a 4-0 tally.
With the Golden Spikers leading two sets to one, FEU came alive in the fourth salvo, banking on its 15 attack points against UST’s 12 to extend the game to a fifth set, 25-21.
In the final frame, the Golden Spikers trailed FEU by two until they forced an 11-all deadlock.
However, a costly service error by Josh Ybañez, a crosscourt kill by Jayjay Javelona and a back row hit by Andrei Delicana sent the Tamaraws to match point, 14-11.
It was Dryx Saavedra who scored the game-sealing off-the-block kill after Gboy de Vega saved one match point, 15-12.
FEU also took advantage of UST’s 10 unforced errors in the first salvo, four of which gave the set-point advantage to the Tamaraws before Delicana sealed the set with an off-the-block kill, 28-26.
UST retaliated in the next two frames, pulling off back-to-back 25-21 set-wins in the second and third sets.
“Errors happened,” UST head coach Odjie Mamon told the Varsitarian. “Na-neutralize naman ‘yong opponents e, the adjustments were made, errors lang talaga sa attacking.”
“It’s too early para mag-panic, 14 games ang elimination round. Ikaapat na game pa lang ‘to.”
Five Golden Spikers scored in double digits with Ybañez leading UST with game-high 30 points built on 25 attacks, three blocks and two aces. Jay Rack de la Noche chipped in 17 points, while Rainier Flor, De Vega and Paul Colinares chipped in 14, 13 and 10 points, respectively.
On the other hand, four FEU players scored in double digits with Javelona and Delicana steering the Tamaraws with 18 markers apiece, middle blocker Martin Bugaoan scoring 16 markers and Saavedra adding 13 markers.
The UST Golden Spikers will next face the Ateneo Blue Eagles at the same venue on Saturday, March 9, at 10 a.m.
