For all the heroics Josh Ybañez delivered in University of Santo Tomas’ stunning win over five-time defending champion National University, it was off-the-bench opposite spiker Sherwin Umandal who ultimately provided the decisive punch when it mattered most.
With the Golden Spikers’ twice-to-beat bid hanging in the balance, Umandal rose to the occasion in the clutch, fueling a timely fourth-set surge that powered UST to a 30-28, 25-18, 22-25, 25-23 triumph over the Bulldogs and forced a playoff for the second seed and the final postseason incentive in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Men’s Volleyball Tournament.
Sherwin, brother of former Golden Spiker and national team member Jau, unloaded all nine of his points in the fourth frame to not only lift UST to its fourth straight victory, but also set up a virtual best-of-three showdown for the remaining twice-to-beat advantage starting Saturday, April 25, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
“Siguro noong pinasok ko ang crucial [set], ang gusto ko lang talagang mangyari noon ay mag-contribute since nasa bench ako. Nakikita ko kung ano yung ginagawa ng NU. Siguro, ‘yon na rin naging advantage ko para malaman kung ano ang igagalaw ko sa loob,” the 6-foot-1 opposite spiker said postgame.
After dropping the third set, NU looked poised to force a decider after racing to a seven-point cushion, 13-6, behind key hits from Choi Diao and Buds Buddin.
But Umandal turned the tide almost single-handedly, accounting for five points in a blistering 10-2 run capped by a sharp cut shot and a down-the-line attack that gave the Golden Spikers a slim 16-15 edge.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
He then pushed UST to match point with a through-the-block strike before Ybañez sealed the victory with an off-the-block hit, extending the Golden Spikers’ bid for the last twice-to-beat incentive.
Rarely seeing action this season due to the emergence of rookie opposite hitter Joncriz Ayco, Umandal credited his breakout performance to the unwavering trust of his teammates and head coach Odjie Mamon.
“Siguro sobrang laking bagay nila sa akin kasi hindi madaling mag-perform galing bench, tapos maglalaro ka sa crucial game. Yung support ng teammates ko sa loob ng court, napakalaking bagay sa akin para makagalaw ako sa loob ng court,” Umandal said, as his clutch outing handed NU back-to-back elimination-round losses for the first time since Season 78 (2016).
Despite finishing with a dominant line of 27 points, 26 excellent receptions, and six excellent digs, Ybañez said he was not surprised by Umandal’s eruption, stressing that it was only a matter of time before he delivered.
“I always believe in [Sherwin] talaga ever since nung rookies pa kami at nung sophomore year namin… Nakikita ko talaga na nag-aantay lang siya ng time to prove people wrong na kaya niya. I am so happy nag-perform siya ng ganyan,” Ybañez said.
For Mamon, Umandal’s breakout was no coincidence but part of a carefully planned rotation, highlighting the depth and reliability of UST’s bench heading into the crucial stretch of the season.
“Actually, si Umandal, naka-schedule yan for playoffs, Final Four, Finals. Ang luxury ko actually is having a player to replace the starters and yung position na yon,” he said.
“Sabi ko nga, yung bench ko, on paper, hindi ganon kalakas, pero maganda yung tao namin.”
