By: Ohmer Bautista
The University of Santo Tomas Tiger Spikers wielded the upset axe anew, stunning the NCAA Men’s Volleyball kings University of Perpetual Help System DALTA Altas in straight-sets, 25-17, 25-21, 25-11, in the Premier Volleyball League Season Men’s Collegiate Conference at the Filoil Flying V Centre.
The España-based squad, which previously tamed the fancied FEU Tamaraws last weekend, improves to a 2-0 card, while Altas drop to 0-2.
The Tiger Spikers’ started on the wrong foot, allowing Altas to take an early 9-5 gap. But after absorbing the tempo of the fast-pace game, UST hit their stride.
“Isang rotation bago sila nag-settle down, shaky start diba I think we went down 9-5 bago kami lumamang pero once they’ve settled down, they delivered,” UST head coach Odjie Mamon said.
Securing the first two sets, the Growling Tigers’ blasted the game wide open in the third frame, jumpstarting to a 10-0 flurry and never looking back.
Joshua Umandal was the lone twin digit scorer for the Tigers with 16 markers spiked by three aces. Gen Redido managed nine markers for UST, which smoked the Altas’ grounds with 44 spikes in comparison to Perpetual’s 24.
The Mamon-mentored squad also had a solid floor defensive outing with 40 excellent digs.
Esmail Kasim, meanwhile, was also the only one who cracked into double digit scoring with 10 for Altas.
The Tiger Spikers will seek to bag their third win against the DLSU Green Spikers (0-2) on Sunday, July 29, also at the same venue. The Altas, meanwhile, will look to bounce back against the FEU Tamaraws (0-1) on Saturday, July 28, also at the same venue.
The Scores:
UST (3) – Umandal 16, Redido 9, Medina 8, Carodan 8, Sumagaysay 6, Tajanlangit 4, Buro 1, Casillan 0, Sawal (L), Mendiola (L).
UPHSD (0) – Kasim 10, Rosales 6, Almodiel 4, Ramos 3, Muhali 3, Baggayan 2, Atentar 1, Casana 1, Enarciso 0, Bation 0, Isidro (L), Go (L).
