THE UST Golden Spikers strengthened their hold on the third seed as they overcame the UE Red Warriors in four sets, 22-25, 25-15, 25-19, 25-23, in the UAAP Season 88 men’s volleyball tournament on Easter Sunday, April 5, at UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
Improving to a 7-4 win-loss slate, the Golden Spikers remain in third place and are one win away from securing a Final Four ticket.
Two-time MVP Josh Ybañez shook off a lackluster first set and finished with 25 points on 21 attacks, two blocks and two service aces in the win.
“We were talking about how any team can beat us if we fell apart inside the court,” Ybañez said postgame.
“The coaches reminded me that I have to be the leader because I’m already a senior and I just can’t leave my juniors behind,” he added.
UST got off to a troublesome start but caught up late through kills from JJ Macam and GBoy de Vega, 19-19
However, UE remained gritty behind Raquim Aceron and RG Piojo to snatch the first set, 25-22.
The Golden Spikers quickly regained momentum in the second set as a kill from Johncriz Ayco triggered a 5-0 run for a 13-6 advantage.
UST continued to bury its claws into UE, as a kill from Al-Bukharie Sali and a UE service error tied the match at one set apiece, 25-15.
In the third frame, UST converted a four-point deficit into a four-point lead courtesy of Ybañez, Macam, and Vryvin Catinsag, 19-15.
A cross-court hammer from Ayco and a block from Catinsag put UST ahead, 25-19.
The Españac squad took command throughout the fourth set through a kill and service ace from Catinsag and an attack from Ayco, 18-14.
UE tried to rally back in the waning moments before an attack from Ybañez and a service error from Aceron sealed the deal.
Ayco and Valera provided additional firepower for the Golden Spikers with 13 and 11 points, respectively. Setter Joshua Avila also starred for UST with three points and 19 excellent sets following team captain Dux Yambao’s slow start.
Aceron paced the Red Warriors with 17 points on 15 attacks, one block and one service ace, while Piojo added 13 points, all from attacks.
The Golden Spikers will look to punch their Final Four ticket when they face the Adamson Soaring Falcons on Saturday, April 11, at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan. F – Johann Paulus Coronel
