THE UST Junior Golden Spikers brought home their first UAAP title in seven years after defeating the defending champions, the NUNS Bullpups, 25-17, 25-22, 25-20, in Game 2 of the Season 87 boys’ volleyball finals at the Quadricentennial Pavilion on Saturday, Dec. 7.
This marks the Junior Golden Spikers’ second championship since the boys’ division was included in the UAAP in Season 55. Their first title came in 2017 against FEU.
“‘Yong nilaro nila ngayong araw is nandun sa peak talaga ng gusto nilang mangyari,” UST assistant coach Clarence Esteban told the Varsitarian. “‘Yong sistema natin is na-instill na sa katawan nila.”
“Kahit tumalsik na bola, nadedepensahan namin. ‘Yontalaga, ‘yong depensa, napapasa namin, pumapatay, ‘yon ‘yong nagpanalo talaga sa amin.”
UST nailed nearly half of its attacks, registering 49 markers, and scored 12 points off blocks, 37 excellent digs, and 20 excellent receptions.
A Jon Medino service ace put UST up by a point early, 7-6, before a series of NUNS errors and a block widened the Junior Golden Spikers’ lead to 14-11.
Riding on this momentum, UST cruised to a convincing 25-17 set win after consecutive attack errors by NU.
Both teams traded points in the second set, 11-11, until the Bullpups gained control with three consecutive points from Irillis Kasim, two of them coming from blocks, for a 14-11 lead.
With the set tied at 19-all, the Junior Golden Spikers ignited a 6-3 run, capped by a quick hit from De la Paz, to take a 2-0 set lead, 25-22.
In the final set, UST trailed by a point before taking command with a back-row attack from Medino, 18-16. Leading by one, 21-20, the Junior Golden Spikers never looked back as four consecutive points from Medino sealed the sweep and their first championship since 2017.
Medino led UST with 21 points, followed by Joncriz Ayco and John Bautista with nine points each.
Medino, Legaspi, Ayco, De la Paz, John Cruz, Erick Perjes, and Gherick Luston will be graduating this year.
“This season, I’m so in love with the team,” Medino told the Varsitarian . “I’m happy na, from my teammates, nagsasabi sa akin na, super happy daw nila na they have someone na maasahan sa team na senior.”
UST team captain and libero Kalel Legaspi was named Finals MVP, while NUNS’ Herbert Egger, who sat out Game 2, was awarded Best Middle Blocker.
The Junior Golden Spikers finished the tournament with a 16-1 win-loss record.
