THE UST Golden Spikers suffered their first loss via sweep in the UAAP Season 87 men’s volleyball tournament, folding against the undefeated FEU Tamaraws, 26-24, 25-23, 25-19, to open the second round of eliminations at the Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday, March 23.
This marked the first time UST lost via sweep since Game 1 of the Season 86 finals in May 2024.
The Golden Spikers extended their losing streak to three games and dropped to a 4-4 record, while the Tamaraws remained undefeated through eight games.
UST started strong and maintained an edge throughout the opening set, leading 20-16 with a Jayrack de la Noche through-the-block kill.
The Golden Spikers reached set point after a Josh Ybañez kill made it 24-21.
However, FEU flipped the script and went on a 5-0 run to escape the Golden Spikers and seize the opening frame, 26-24.
UST tried to stay within striking distance midway through the second set, with Trevor Valera knotting the set at 17-all.
FEU responded with back-to-back points to take a 19-17 lead and sustained that advantage to win the second set, 25-23.
The Golden Spikers found a spark early in the third set, holding an 8-2 cushion. But the Tamaraws answered with a 14-6 blast to build a 16-14 advantage.
UST stayed within two as Ybañez scored and FEU’s Mikko Espartero committed an attack error, 19-17.
However, the Tamaraws then used a game-sealing 6-2 run, punctuated by an Espartero crosscourt kill, to hand the Golden Spikers their third straight defeat.
Ybañez paced UST with 15 points, while De la Noche added 12.
Espartero and Dryx Saavedra scored 18 and 13 points, respectively, for FEU.
The Golden Spikers will look to snap their three-game losing skid when they face the DLSU Green Spikers on Saturday, March 29, at 9 a.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. J. E. A. Cortez
