THE UST Golden Spikers remained in the race for the last Final Four slot after a 25-15, 25-21, 25-16 thrashing of the UE Red Warriors in the second round of the UAAP Season 86 men’s volleyball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, April 21.
After winning their fourth game in five outings, the Golden Spikers strengthened their hold of the fourth seed with an 8-5 record, two games ahead of the 6-6 Ateneo Blue Eagles, while UE dropped to a 1-12 card.
As of writing, Ateneo faces the DLSU Green Spikers. A win by DLSU against Ateneo will hand UST the last Final 4 ticket.
After trailing by two to open the first set, 7-5, UST went on an 18-8 run to draw first blood.
A quick hit by Angelo Reyes kept UE alive in the second set, 23-21, but Sherwin Umandal scored consecutive points that gave the Golden Spikers a 2-0 lead, 25-21.
The Golden Spikers zoomed to a comfortable 15-8 start in the third set after a kill by Gboy De Vega and a down-the-line hit by Josh Ybanez.
Emman Dedoroy, who came off the bench, took matters to his own hands, converting the last two points that completed UST’s sweep of the cellar-dwelling Red Warriors, 25-16.
“Mindset namin [ay] since last part na ito ng tournament, all out na,” UST assistant coach Benjamin Mape said postgame. “Lahat na ng pinaghirapan, lahat ng challenges, ito na ‘yong dulo, kaya gagawin namin ‘yong best namin para makapasok sa finals.”
Ybanez paced UST with 18 points and 11 excellent digs, while Umandal and Paul Colinares tallied 12 and 11 points, respectively.
No Red Warrior scored in double digits. John Aligayon and Angelo Reyes had eight points apiece.
The UST Golden Spikers will next face the semifinals-bound DLSU Green Spikers to conclude the elimination round at the same venue on Saturday, April 27, at 4 p.m.
