THE UST Golden Spikers defended their home court in emphatic fashion, sweeping the UE Red Warriors, 25–18, 25–22, 25–22, for their third straight victory in the UAAP Season 88 men’s volleyball on Saturday, Feb. 28, at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
UST improved its record to 3-1 for the second spot, while UE slipped to 1-3.
The Golden Spikers started to pull away midway through the opening set as Trevor Valera converted back-to-back quick attacks to take a 16–8 lead.
Josh Ybañez steadied UST with a down-the-line kill before Joseph Bicar sent his service out sealing the frame, 25–18.
Momentum swung back and forth in the second frame before the Golden Spikers seized control midway behind Ybañez’s barrage of kills, 16–13.
Ybañez then unloaded two cross-court kills before firing a service ace to maintain the lead, 22–19. Trevor Valera punctuated the rally with a quick strike through the middle to close the frame, 25–22.
In the third set, UST’s Vryvin Catinsag cranked up the pressure with a service ace, 9-7.
UE refused to back down late in the frame, answering behind Aceron’s heavy cross-court hits and Carl John Naborra’s timely off-the-block finishes to trim the gap to just two, 22–20.
Catinsag blasted a quick from the middle, followed by an off-the-block kill from Joncriz Ayco to slam the door on UE’s comeback.
Team skipper and setter Dux Yambao orchestrated UST’s offense with 17 excellent sets, enabling Ybañez to unload 11 attacks, one block and a service ace. Valera contributed 10 points built on eight attacks and two kill blocks.
On the other side, Aceron paced UE with 12 points off 11 attacks and a block, while Budias added 10 markers.
UST will look to win its fourth consecutive game against the Adamson Falcons at the SMART Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, March 8. F
