The UST Tiger Spikers dispatch the UP Maroons in a quick 25-18, 25-11, 25-15 trashing to improve to an unscathed 3-0 slate in the Men’s Volleyball division held at San Juan Arena.
Both teams were close in the first part of the opening sets as an exchange in errors piled up early. Mark Alfafara scored UST’s late markers in the first set to win it up by seven.
Defense was the theme in the Tiger’s second set run as their blocking proved to be UP’s headache from the start. With the net defense achored by Jason Sarabia, the Tigers cruised to an early comfortable margin and enter the final frame with full momentum.
A flurry of service aces for UST helped the squad in terms of shutting down any rally to be put up by UP in the third set. Alfafara and captain Rico Romnick led the charge in putting the UP at bay.
In a one-sided affair, UST sizzled with a 42-18 attack advantage and had more blocks, 10-3. The Tiger Spikers were also plus six in terms of serving, 8-2 while capping this victory with only 15 errors.
Mark Alfafara once again paced UST woth 18 points including 16 spikes. Rico Romnick and Jason Sarabia both added 11 apiece. Setter Paul Castillo also played stellar in terms of assisting up his teammates with 27 excellent sets.
Wendel Miguel led UP in the loss with seven points and Julius Raymundo scored six.
The Tigers will look for their fourth straight victory in the tournament against the National University Bulldogs on Saturday, Dec. 6 while UP seeks to end their two-game losing skid against Ateneo on the same day.
The scores:
UST – Alfafara 18, Rico 11, Sarabia 11, Castillo 7, Bautista 7, Lopez 2, Dela Cruz 2, Tajanlangit 1, Guzman 1, Balse 0, Arbasto 0, Pangan(L) 0, Francisco(L) 0
UP – Miguel 7, Raymundo 6, Cabatingan 2, Badiong 2, Dela Paz 1, Hernandez 1, San Pascual 0, San Pedro 0, Nicandro(L) 0
