The UST Golden Spikers overwhelmed the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, 25-14, 25-17, 25-17, in their penultimate elimination-round game in the UAAP Season 88 men’s volleyball tournament on Sunday, April 19, at Mall of Asia Arena.
The win improved UST’s record to 9-4 and solidified its hold on the No. 3 spot. The Golden Spikers will hope 5-7 De La Salle University defeats 10-2 National University (NU) in the ensuing match to keep their twice-to-beat hopes alive.
UST will next face NU to wrap up its elimination-round campaign. The Fighting Maroons fell to 3-11.
“Tama ‘yong manalo in a dominant fashion para morale boosting,” UST head coach Odjie Mamon said. “Bukod doon, [importante rin] ‘yong build-up namin going to Final 4, mas magandang magkaroon ng confidence [‘yong team].”
“Right now, kailangan ko silang mag-enjoy, mag-explore, pero under control. So, happy today, na-execute nila kahit sinong ipasok.”
Josh Ybañez led UST with 17 points, while Trevor Valera added 11. Vrybin Catinsag scored six, while GBoy de Vega finished with seven.
The Golden Spikers stretched their lead to eight points, 18-10, early in the first set and never looked back in a 25-14 opening-set victory.
UST then built a 17-10 cushion, punctuated by a Joncriz Ayco attack, to seize full control on the way to a 25-17 win in the second set.
The Golden Spikers trailed by as many as three points in the third set, 9-6, before Ybañez sparked a 16-4 finishing run to complete the sweep.
Grayhood Baylon paced UP with nine points, while Angelo Lipata had seven.
UST and NU are set to meet Wednesday, April 22, at the Araneta Coliseum. Kurt Russel Vincent Miranda
