The UST Golden Spikers crushed the UP Fighting Maroons in straight sets, 25-17, 25-20, 25-11, to grab their fifth straight victory in Round 2 of the UAAP Season 87 men’s volleyball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday, April 23.
UST improved to a 9-4 record to break its tie with DLSU and secure solo third place, while UP dropped to 3-10.
“‘Yong preparation namin toward the last games of this tournament, medyo intense talaga,” UST assistant coach Benjamin Mape said postgame. “Natuwa kaming coaches kasi ‘yong mga pinagpraktisan namin during the Holy Week break, nakita naman namin even though hindi pa siya ‘yong gano’n kabilis or perfect.”
After a slow start, the Golden Spikers pulled away midway through the first set, 20-13. They allowed UP only four more points before ultimately securing the 1-0 set advantage with Jan Macam’s off-the-block kill, 25-17.
UST led 20-12 late in the second set after UP’s attack error. Despite UP’s efforts to rally with the Golden Spikers at set point, 24-20, UST secured the set with a successful ball in/out challenge to take a two-sets-to-none lead, 25-20.
The Fighting Maroons’ woes continued as the Golden Spikers reached match point with a dominant 24-10 advantage capped by Gboy de Vega’s ace.
UST then cruised to victory with a quick from the returning Alche Gupiteo, 25-11.
Ybañez paced the Golden Spikers with 15 markers, while Macam and Popoy Colinares had 11 apiece.
“Naging main goal namin no’ng break namin is to try and reflect kung ano ‘yong mga bagay na puwede naming i-improve. And I think we maximized (the time) — nag-enjoy kami, and nagnilay-nilay kami, and I think isa siya sa mga factor kung bakit maganda ‘yong ginalaw namin dito,” Ybañez said.
Olayemi Raheem was the only Fighting Maroon to score in double digits with 10 points.
The Golden Spikers will close out their elimination round against defending champion NU Bulldogs at the Smart Araneta Coliseum at 9 a.m. on Sunday, April 27.
