The UST Junior Golden spikers claw the NUNS Bullpups in four sets, 25-19, 25-18, 20-25, 25-22, in the UAAP Season 87 boys’ volleyball tournament at the Paco Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 20. (Photo by Chloe Elysse B. Ibañez/ The Varsitarian)

THE UST Junior Golden Spikers toppled the defending champions NUNS Bullpups in four sets, 25-19, 25-18, 20-25, 25-22, to stay on top of the UAAP Season 87 boys’ volleyball tournament at the Paco Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 20.

With the win, the Junior Golden Spikers improved to a 12-1 win-loss standing and remained at the top of the team standings with one game left in their schedule. NUNS slid to 11-2 and tied with UE for second.

To secure the top seed and the twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four, the Junior Golden Spikers will have to win their final elimination game against the Adamson Baby Falcons.

“Simula pa lang kasi…pinaghahandaan na namin ‘tong laban na ‘to. So kahit papaano, naging fruitful ‘yong ginawa naming paghihirap at sakripisyo doon sa training namin,” UST head coach Clarence Esteban said. 

Leading for most of the opening set, the Junior Golden Spikers mustered a 5-0 run midway through to pull away and secure the set, 25-19. 

With NU fielding mostly second-stringers in the second frame, UST pounced on the Bullpups’ errors to dictate the tempo en route to the 25-18 set win. 

Leading 13-10 in the third set, the Junior Golden Spikers squandered the early cushion as NU zoomed to a 15-7 rally, extending the match, 20-25. 

Tied at 21-all, the Junior Golden Spikers leaned on Rainier Lorayes’s timely attacks before Paolo Medino punctuated a 4-1 UST run to seal the win, 25-22. 

Joncriz Ayco led UST with 17 points off 14 attacks, while Lorayes added 15 markers.

Xandrex Ragusta had 15 points in the losing effort for NU.

The Junior Golden Spikers will close out the elimination round against the Adamson Baby Falcons on Sunday, Nov. 24, at the same venue.

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