THE UST Golden Spikers absorbed their third straight loss, faltering in five sets against the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 25-15, 30-32, 25-20, 20-25, 15-17, in the UAAP Season 86 men’s volleyball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday, March 9.
With the loss, UST dropped out of the Top 4 and into the fifth spot with a 2-3 win-loss record, while Ateneo rose to fourth with a 3-2 tally.
With the Golden Spikers leading two sets to one, Ateneo zoomed to a 16-9 start in the fourth frame, capped by an ace by Jian Salarzon.
UST attempted a comeback behind a 7-2 blitz, 18-17, but the Blue Eagles thwarted the Golden Spikers with a 7-3 run to force a fifth set, 25-20.
In the decider, it took 15 consecutive deadlocks before Ateneo rookie Kennedy Batas scored a down-the-line kill and Salarzon went for the tip to seal the deal, 17-15.
The Golden Spikers showed their might in the first set, outscoring Ateneo with their attack points alone to take the opening frame, 25-15. UST had 16 attack points compared to the Blue Eagles’ nine.
Ateneo tied the game at one set apiece after a 32-30 escape in the second frame.
Josh Ybañez powered UST in the third set, converting the last three points that gave the Golden Spikers a two-sets-to-one lead, 25-20.
Ybañez led the Golden Spikers anew with a season-high 31 points built on 29 attacks and two blocks. Paul Colinares, Gboy de Vega and Sherwin Umandal chipped in 18, 16 and 10 points, respectively.
In the absence of injured star spiker Aimar Okeke, Ateneo’s Salarzon unleashed 22 points and had 28 excellent receptions, while Batas also had a double-double performance of 18 points and 12 excellent digs. Amil Pacinio and Jettlee Gopio scored 17 points each.
The UST Golden Spikers will next face the winless UP Fighting Maroons on March 13, Wednesday, at 10 a.m. The league has yet to announce the venue.
