The University of Santo Tomas Tiger Spikers scored a major upset, pouncing on a dazed Adamson University Soaring Falcons side for a surprising straight sets win 26-24, 25-23, 25-23 in the UAAP Season 78 Men’s Volleyball Tournament at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
Carried by their blocking, Adamson took a 12-6 lead in the first set. From there, Adamson’s pitiful struggle with service reception. The Tigers inched slowly, finally tying the set at 20-all and grabbing the lead at 23-22. The Falcons, however, still managed to force a deuce, 24-all, but with sophomore setter Timmy Tajanlangit at the service line, the Tigers got a finishing push. Tajanlangit served an ace then coaxed a free ball in the following point, setting up rookie Manuel Medina’s set-clicnhing kill.
Tajanlangit brought his brilliant serving spree all the way to the second set, keying an 8-0 opening salvo. The Falcons continued to drown in their own miscues, spotting UST a 16-5 lead. The Tigers then showed their youth, amassing multiple errors in an 12-1 Adamson run that tied the set at 17. Things looked grim for UST as Adamson soared to a 22-20 lead after clutch kills from Mike Sudaria and Dave Pletado but Adamson was due for another collapse. The Falcons failed to get a good pass for the rest of the set. UST grabbed the opportunity and pulled four of their last five points from attacks.
Adamson again coughed up an 8-3 lead in the third set and gave UST an 11-9 lead. For a moment, Adamson seemed revived after UST’s errors buoyed them to a 17-15 lead. From there, Adamson sank to their demise. UST middle blocker, Jason Sarabia played brilliantly at the net, killing every over-passed ball and complimenting the attacking of Manuel Medina. The Tigers had match point at 24-19 but proceeded to give away the next three points off careless attack errors. Off his third attempt im a single rally, Medina finally ended the match with an off the block kill.
“Today we really played with God in our hearts and minds,” said UST assistant coach Ben Mape. “Sa mga nakaraang match equipped kami with statistics and strategies. Today I firmly believe that we played with God’s blessing.”
Medina finished with 15 points off 13 kills, a block and an ace. Sarabia tallied 13 points built on 11 attacks, a block and an ace.
Adamson team captain, Mike Sudaria was the only Falcon in double-digits with 12 markers. Adamson could not maximize the 34 errors that UST handed them throughout the match.
UST is now tied at fifth place with the University of the Philippines at 4-5. Adamson is winless in the second round and sits at third, tied with National University at 6-3.
UST and Adamson will both have their matches on Wednesday at the FilOil Flying V Centre. Adamson takes on Far Eastern University (5-4) at 8 a.m. while UST has De La Salle University (3-6) at 10 a.m.
The Scores
UST (3) – Medina 15, Sarabia 13, Carodan 8, Bautista 8, Tajanlangit 4, Sumagaysay 3, Buro 2, Amagan 0, Balse 0, Castillo 0, Pangan (L)
AdU (0) – Sudaria 12, Pletado 9, Saraza 7, Pablico 4, Ramirez 2, Yude 2, Sarmiento 0, Consunji 0, Mendiolla (L), Melgar (L)
