THE UST Golden Spikers escaped the College of St. Benilde Blazers in a five-set thriller, 25-15, 23-25, 25-22, 24-26, 22-20, in the men’s V-League Collegiate Challenge on Sunday, Sept. 20, at the Gameville Central Park.
The win pushed UST to a 3-3 record with the final playoffs spot remains up for grabs heading into the last week of eliminations.
UST built an early six-point cushion in the opening set before Gboy De Vega capped a 6-1 finishing run with an ace, 25-15.
Benilde responded in the second set as the two sides stayed within striking distance of each other throughout. Blazer Kim Liray came through with back-to-back points late to equalize, 23-25.
The third set followed the same tight script, with UST holding a slim advantage in the closing stretch.
Al-Bukharie Sali’s attack put the Golden Spikers at set point, and although Benilde saved two, Trevor Valera finished with a quick attack to give UST a 25-22 third-set win.
Benilde held a 22-17 lead in the fourth set before UST mounted a late fightback. Sali’s ace cut the deficit to 23-23, but a service error put the Blazers at set point.
Macam answered with a kill to tie it at 24-all, before a Reymark Betco kill sent the match into a decider.
The España-based squad raced to a 9-4 start behind timely attacks from Macam and Sali, but Benilde capitalized on UST’s errors to erase the deficit and level the set at 14-all.
UST then fended off the surging Blazers, with De Vega and Macam delivering the final two points to secure the hardfought win for the Golden Spikers, 22-20.
The UST Golden Spikers will face the the FEU Tamaraws in a must-win game on Saturday, Sep. 26, at the same venue. F
