The UST Junior Golden Spikers triumph against the FEU-D Baby Tamaraws after four tight sets, 25-22, 23-25, 25-22, 25-22, in the UAAP Season 87 boys' volleyball tournament at the Paco Arena on Saturday, Oct. 12. (Photo by Djenhard Yreneo Raphael Y. Sapanhila/ The Varsitarian)

THE UST Junior Golden Spikers completed their first-round sweep as they overcame the FEU-D Baby Tamaraws in four sets, 25-22, 23-25, 25-22, 25‐22, in the UAAP Season 87 boys’ volleyball tournament at the Paco Arena on Saturday, Oct. 12.

The Junior Golden Spikers ended Round 1 of eliminations at the top of the team standings with a perfect 7-0 record, while FEU finished the round with a 3-4 record.

UST head coach Clarence Esteban said he wants the Junior Golden Spikers to remain aggressive in the rest of the eliminations despite their impressive showing in Round 1.

“Sinasabi ko nga sa mga players natin na ‘yong 7-0 is number lang ‘yon, so mas lalo dapat kaming maging agresibo sa second round,” Esteban told the Varsitarian.

UST neared set point in the opening frame following a service ace by Joncriz Ayco, 23-19. The Baby Tamaraws closed in at 22-24 until a Tyler Ramos’ service error cost FEU the opening set, 25-22.

In the tight second set, UST’s Rainier Lorayes knotted the score to 22-all with a backrow attack before the Baby Tamaraws earned the edge with two straight to gain setpoint, 24-22. Ayco tried to keep the game alive with a crosscourt kill, but a drop by FEU’s Kenneth Maliwanag sealed the set, 25-23.

With UST ahead by four in the third frame, 19-15, FEU used a 4-0 swing, built on three points from Maliwanag, and knotted it at 19-all.

A block point by FEU tied it again at 21-all before the Junior Golden Spikers secured the set, courtesy of a Lorayes through-the-block hit, 25-22.

The Junior Golden Spikers led by two late into the fourth set as Jon Medina and Crisean Cruz went for back-to-back kills, 21-19. UST maintained this advantage, ultimately clinching the win 25-22.

“Kami na ‘yong team to beat na hinahanap ng kalaban namin,” Esteban said.

The Junior Golden Spikers scored 60 points from a total of 153 attacks, compared to FEU’s 44 from 146.

Lorayes paced the Golden Spikers with 21 markers, followed by Ayco with 17.

Maliwanag and Zedrick Calimlim were the only Baby Tamaraws to score in double digits with 19 and 16 markers, respectively.

The UAAP has yet to announce the schedule of second-round games in the boys’ volleyball tournament. Rafael Paolo P. Salaya

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