University of Santo Tomas was almost there but not quite in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 85 men’s volleyball finals on Wednesday.
The Golden Spikers erased National University’s two-sets-to-none lead and force a fifth set but ran out of gas, falling 23-25, 22-25, 25-21, 31-29, 11-15, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
UST remains upbeat after the downer, knowing that it was just points away from stunning the Bulldogs and handing them their first loss since February 16, 2019.
“Syempre masaya naman po kahit natalo kasi po ayun nga po niremind sa amin ni Coach Odjie na kahit talo kami at least panalo naman kami sa mga learning na nakuha namin sa game na ito,” said Rookie of the Year frontrunner Josh Ybañez after the two hour and 50 minute match.
“Okay naman din po happy din po sa naging resulta kahit talo kasi po marami pong learnings at meron pa po kaming time para icorrect po yun sa ensayo. Bawi po kami sa Game 2,” added Golden Spiker Gboy De Vega.
The two led the charge for UST with Ybañez dropping 28 points and 12 digs while De Vega tallied 19 points and 13 excellent receptions.
But endgame mishaps doomed them as four consecutive errors turned the Golden Spikers’ 9-8 lead in the fifth set to a 12-9 deficit as NU escaped with the win, its 33rd straight.
UST led the spiking category, 72-61, but was outscored in the blocking and service departments, 12-7 and 2-0, respectively. The Golden Spikers also committed 40 errors compared to the Bulldogs’ 33.
In a close game like this, head coach Odjie Mamon felt like this “could have gone either way”.
Even though their backs are now against the wall, the long-time UST coach believes that tough games like this will only help his team move forward, starting in Game 2 on Sunday.
“Learning experience tapos character building ulit since it’s a five-setter, the second five-setter we lost,” said Mamon, who just returned to the Philippines on Wednesday midnight after serving as an assistant coach for the country’s men’s national volleyball team that placed fifth in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games.
“I don’t know parang may certain points doon sa match sa first set, sa third set na breaks lang lalo sa fifth set. Could have gone either way.”
Mamon also tipped his hat to his whole team which showed they belong on the biggest stage with an epic match that just didn’t go their way as Michaelo Buddin and Nico Almendras proved to be too much in the first game.
“No questions regarding their puso or yung will to win especially the whole team. Meron lang talagang certain aspects na we have to correct kasi out of system yung nangyari kanina. Hopefully by Game 2 macorrect namin yun and have a better result.”
