The University of Santo Tomas Tiger Spikers had to fend off the absence of rookie Genesis Redido and the Arellano University Chiefs’ mid-game run to keep their perfect record unblemished, 25-19, 25-21, 23-25, 14-25, 15-8, at the 2018 Premier Volleyball League Collegiate Conference, Wednesday morning at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
The España-based squad needed to deal with makeshift lineups, which initially worked in the first two sets, with senior Ty Carodan playing as opposite hitter instead of the center in lieu of Redido. The starting middle blocker delivered, and upon resuming his normal position in the fifth set, finished the game well at the net.
In the end, the graduating spiker ended with 14 points off 11 attacks, two aces, and a block. Second-year player Joshua Umandal added 16 points despite sitting on the bench for most of the fourth set.
UST Head Coach Odjie Mamon was pleased that the players he fielded in got it done.
“Inexplore ko lang kung san ko pwedeng ilagay yung mga players, pero yung fifth set, yun talaga yung line-up dapat,” the former UST standout shared.
Christian Dela Paz, who missed the previous game, paced the Chiefs with 18 points.
The 8-0 Golden Spikers will face fellow UAAP team National University Bulldogs on Sunday, August 26 at 9am. Arellano (0-8) will try to close their season with a win as they face the De La Salle UniversityGreen Spikers at the same time on Saturday, August 25.
The Scores:
UST 3 – Umandal 16, Carodan 14, Sumagaysay 11, Medina 11, Corda 8, Tajanlangit 7, Buro 2, Casillan 1, Sawal L, Mendiolla L.
AU 2 – Dela Paz 18, Liberato 14, Segovia 11, Villados 9, Domingo 3, Lapuz 2, Tan 2, Meneses 1, Esguerra L.
