THE UST Golden Spikers suffered their second straight loss after succumbing to the DLSU Green Spikers, 19-25, 25-27, 25-23, 20-25, in the 2024 V-League Men’s Collegiate Challenge at the Paco Arena on Sunday, Aug. 7.
UST remained winless in two games, while DLSU stayed undefeated with a 2-0 win-loss record.
In a rematch of last year’s V-League finals, both teams missed key players: two-time UAAP MVP Josh Ybañez for UST and Noel Kampton for DLSU.
“This is the time para mag-venture kung ano ‘yong mga other adjustments na dapat namin gawin para sa game,” UST assistant coach Benjamin Mape told the Varsitarian. “At the same time kapag wala si Josh, wala si Flor, ayan ‘yong mga bagay na kailangan namin i-ayos.”
“Actually, this tournament, parang ito ‘yong identifier natin kung ano dapat naming i-improve pa doon sa mga bago,” Mape said. “Ito rin ‘yong pagkakataon namin para maisalang natin ‘yong mga rookies namin.”
Incoming UST rookies Jan Macam and Al-Bukharie Sali led the Golden Spikers with 17 and 16 markers, respectively.
UST kept it tight in the first set, 19-18, but consecutive errors allowed DLSU to pull away with a 6-1 run to draw first blood.
After dropping nine errors in the opening canto compared to DLSU’s five, the Golden Spikers continued to miss their chances in the second frame, giving away 10 points, which the Green Spikers capitalized on for a 2-0 lead.
UST has already dropped 77 errors in its first two games, 35 of which came versus DLSU.
In the third set, UST turned the tables and took advantage of two DLSU errors that kept the Golden Spikers’ bid alive, 25-23.
The error-plagued Golden Spikers were only trailing DLSU by one in the fourth set, 19-18, until the Green Archers went on a game-sealing 6-2 run capped by a service ace from Jerico Adajar.
Green Spiker Joshua Magalanan paced DLSU with 13 points, followed by Michael Fortuna and Eugene Gloria with 12 points apiece.
The UST Golden Spikers will next face the defending UAAP champion NU Bulldogs at the same venue on Sunday, Aug. 11, at 3 p.m. Rafael Paolo P. Salaya
