SEVERAL ERRORS prevented the UST Golden Spikers from ending the elimination round on a winning note as they fell to the DLSU Green Spikers in a four-set battle, 20-25, 27-25, 20-25, 18-25, in the UAAP Season 86 men’s volleyball tournament on Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Golden Spikers committed a costly 28 errors, while the Green Spikers had 18 errors.
UST finished fourth in the elimination round with an 8-6 win-loss record. DLSU is tied with the NU Bulldogs at 11-3 and will have a playoff for a twice-to-beat advantage.
DLSU capitalized on UST’s ten errors in the first set, building a lead with sharp plays and a sturdy defense. Aggressive attacks from Green Spikers’ JM Ronquillo and well-timed blocks by middle blocker Billie Anima kept UST at bay, allowing the Taft-based squad to secure the first set, 25-20.
The fiercely contested second set saw the two teams see-sawed back-and-forth scores. Ronquillo’s precise attack helped DLSU get closer to claiming the set, 24-23. However, reigning Rookie-MVP Josh Ybañez responded with a clutch off-the-block hit, keeping UST in the hunt, 24-all.
Opposite hitter Sherwin Umandal and open spiker Gboy de Vega then unleashed consecutive powerful crosscourt kills to allow UST to gain a 27-25 set-win.
Despite de Vega’s valiant efforts, DLSU’s relentless pressure proved difficult to withstand. Noel Kampton’s late-game heroics propelled DLSU to clinch the third set, 25-20.
De Vega and Umandal tried to narrow the gap in the fourth frame, 12-10, but Kampton sparked a scoring run for DLSU, widening the lead to 16-11.
The España-based squad failed to recover after Ybañez’s attack error sealed the victory for the Taft-based squad, 25-18.
Ybañez paced the Golden Spikers with 24 points, coming from 22 attacks and two service aces. De Vega and Umandal produced 15 and 12 markers, respectively.
Ronquillo carried DLSU’s offensive load with 21 markers, while Vince Maglinao and Kamptoon chipped in 19 and 18.
The UST Golden Spikers will face the twice-to-beat FEU Tamaraws in the semi-finals. F – Mc Neil Zyh Serrano
