UST Golden Spikers was off to a bad start in the UAAP Season 87 men’s volleyball opener, tumbling to the FEU Tamaraws in four sets, 25-20, 22-25, 16-25, 20-25, on Saturday, Feb. 15, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Trailing by five points in the fourth set, UST star spiker Josh Ybañez suffered a bad landing that forced him to sit out the remaining minutes.
The two-time MVP finished with 15 kills to lead the España squad, which settled for silver during the previous season.
The Tamaraws also spoiled the indoor debut of beach volleyball standout Alche Gupiteo, who was pivotal in the championship of the UST Tiger Sands in November. Gupiteo tried to breathe life for the Golden Spikers after a crosscourt kill but the Tamaraws fired a 5-0 barrage that sealed the game, 25-20.
FEU halted a 3-0 UST run as middle blocker Lirick Mendoza shut the doors on Gboy De Vega, cutting the deficit to 20-19. The Golden Spikers, however, built a 4-0 blitz behind consecutive backrow kills from Ybañez to take set one, 25-20.
In the second frame, Tamaraw open hitter Jerold Talisayan hammered a down-the-line kill to spark a 4-1 run, 11-8. The Morayta squad continued its momentum as Congolese middle blocker Doula Ndongala tied the match one-set apiece, 25-22.
Last year’s silver medalists fell deeper into an offensive lull in the third salvo but a solo block from middle blocker Trevor Valera closed them in by three, 6-9. However, Tamaraws Saavedra and Ndongala further buried the Golden Spikers with back-to-back kills, 25-15.
The fourth set saw a tighter game between the two squads until Tamaraw Mendoza drilled a quick hit to gain a three-point advantage, 13-10. UST tried to catch up but FEU stayed in the driver’s seat.
Mikko Espartero led the Tamaraws to victory with 19 points on 16 attacks, two blocks and an ace. Talisayan and Saavedra added 13 markers each while Ndongala chipped in 12.
Aside from Ybañez, only Valera was the double-digit scorer for the Golden Spikers with seven attacks and four blocks.
The Golden Spikers will aim to bounce back against the UE Red Warriors on Feb. 22, Saturday, at the FilOil EcoOil Centre. F – Jade Alecksandra Bagas
