The UST Golden Spikers punched their UAAP Season 88 Final Four ticket after overcoming the Adamson Soaring Falcons, 32-30, 18-25, 25-18, 25-17, on Saturday, April 11, at the Playtime FilOil Centre.
The Golden Spikers improved to 8-4 to tighten their hold on the third seed and reach the Final Four for the fourth straight season. Adamson dropped to 2-10.
Josh Ybañez led UST with 23 points, followed by Trevor Valera, who tallied 18 points. Gboy de Vega added 16 markers.
Vryvin Catinsag and Joncriz Ayco also had 11 and 10 points, respectively. Joshua Avila, who came in for UST captain Dux Yambao in the first set, dished out 33 excellent sets.
“Objective-wise, na-meet namin siguro two out of our four goals,” UST head coach Odjie Mamon said. “I’m happy pero todo pa rin kami sa mga susunod na games kasi baka magkaroon ng chance for playoffs for No. 2.”
Trailing for most of the opening set, the Golden Spikers rallied from a 23-20 deficit to tie the game at 23-all following an ace from Ybañez.
It was a back-and-forth battle from there until a down-the-line kill from Ybañez, followed by a drop ball from de Vega, allowed UST to clinch the first set, 32-30.
Adamson responded in the second set with a 10-3 run, capped by two consecutive points from Zyro Ornos to equalize the match, 25-18.
The Golden Spikers then built an early six-point cushion in the third set, 15-9, as Ybañez, de Vega and Catinsag connected on timely hits before fending off the Falcons, 25-18.
The Golden Spikers did not look back in the fourth set, building their biggest lead at 22-12 before cruising past the Falcons in four sets, 25-17.
Richard Besorio led Adamson with 18 points, followed by Manuel Tan with 10 in the losing effort.
The Golden Spikers will next face the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons on Sunday, April 19, at Mall of Asia Arena.
