THE UST Golden Spikers prevailed over the DLSU Green Spikers in four sets, 25-23, 25-22, 15-25, 25-19, to claim their first win in the UAAP Season 88 men’s volleyball tournament on Sunday, Feb. 22, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Alas Pilipinas star Josh Ybañez tallied a game-high 21 points and 11 excellent receptions for UST, while JJ Macam and Trevor Valera chipped in nine points each.
“This game was very important to us. Like we always say, it was a ‘must-win’ game for us because it will help change the mood during training,” Ybañez said postgame.
“Last time, we felt a lot of weight because we were coming off a loss against NU. This is a good start for us this season to gain momentum heading into the next games,” the outside hitter added.
Both squads figured in a nip-and-tuck opening set, trading points and committing 10 errors apiece without either side gaining firm control.
Locked at 23-all, Ybañez took charge with a sharp drop to give UST set point. Team captain Dux Yambao then delivered another precise drop to clinch the tightly fought first frame, 25-23.
UST fell into a four-point hole to start the second set, struggling to find rhythm early. But it unleashed a decisive 10-2 run to turn the deficit into a 17-13 advantage.
UST reached set point first, but DLSU answered with a quick 3-0 rally to threaten a late comeback, 24-22.
Refusing to let the set slip, open spiker Macam fired a sharp down-the-line hit to shut the door and secure another set for UST.
The Taft-based squad raced to a 14-8 lead to open the third set as the Golden Spikers committed eight early errors.
DLSU was able to preserve the margin throughout the set as Joshua Magalaman denied Macam at the net to pull one back for the Green Spikers, 25-15.
UST seized an early lead in the fourth frame as they capitalized on DLSU’s eight miscues, 11-6.
Ybañez and Macam shouldered most of UST’s offensive duties midway in the fourth set, helping the team maintain the lead and cruise to their first victory, 25-19.
Green Spikers’ foreign student-athlete Issa Ousseini led the scoring for DLSU with 16 points, while Chris Hernandez added 15 markers.
The España-based squad is in a three-way tie with UP and Ateneo in the standings with a 1-1 win-loss record, while DLSU dropped to the bottom of the standings at 0-2.
UST will look to secure another win against Ateneo on Wednesday, Feb. 25, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. F
