ERRORS KILLED the momentum of the UST Golden Spikers as they collapsed before the defending champions NU Bulldogs in four grueling sets, 25-16, 20-25, 21-25, 27-29, to conclude the first round of the UAAP Season 87 men’s volleyball tournament on Sunday, March 16, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
In the Season 86 Finals rematch, UST committed 39 costly miscues to NU’s 19.
After suffering back-to-back losses, the España squad dropped to the third seed with a 4-3 record. Meanwhile, the Bustillos-based squad remained in the second spot with a 6-1 standing.
To open the game, UST set up its defensive front as middle blockers Popoy Colinares and Trevor Valera scored consecutive kills and blocks, 5-1.
The Golden Spikers continued to stay in the driver’s seat after a back-row kill from opposite spiker Jay Rack de la Noche gave them the set, 25-16.
NU began to capitalize on UST’s errors with open spikers Leo Aringo and Michaelo Buddin firing off-the-block kills to lead in the second frame, 13-8.
The Golden Spikers unloaded 14 attacks to the Bulldogs’ eight, but the former’s 11 errors in the second frame alone killed their momentum. A down-the-line attack from last season’s Rookie of the Year Jade Disquitado leveled the match, 25-20.
Both squads traded points in the third set as an ace from Colinares put the game at an 18-all deadlock.
However, the defending champions pulled away with a 5-1 run capped off by a Disquitado kill to take a 2-1 set advantage, 25-21.
The fourth frame was an even tighter affair as Golden Spiker rookie JJ Macam punched back-to-back off-the-block kills to extend the match, 25-24.
With the Bulldogs at their fourth match point, NU captain Aringo denied a Josh Ybañez spike at the net to claim the victory, 29-27.
Aringo spearheaded NU with 13 points built on nine attacks and four blocks. Disquitado racked up 12 makers, while Buddin and Rwenzmel Taguibolos added 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Ybañez paced UST with a season-high 17 points from 16 attacks and a block. De la Noche had 16 while Macam added 15 markers.
The UAAP has yet to announce the schedule of games for the second round. F
