The University of Santo Tomas Tiger Spikers have clinched an outright Finals berth, while the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons have made it to the Final Four of the UAAP Season 79 Men’s Volleyball Tournament at the Sands SM by the Bay.
The Tigers’ Kris Guzman and Anthony Arbasto displayed dominant form in their sweep-securing win over Far Eastern University’s Jude Garcia and Richard Solis 21-12, 21-19.
The España spikers finished the elimination round without a single set loss. After four straight years of second place finishes, UST are now just two wins away from a title.
“Kami focus lang ng focus hanggang matapos ‘yung season. Trabaho lang ng trabaho kasi alam namin na kung sisipagan namin, makakarating rin kami sa goal namin na championship,” the captain Guzman told Tiebreaker Times.
In the stepladder Final Four, the Tamaraws braved difficult odds to set a meeting with twice-to-beat University of the Philippines’ Alfred Valbuena and Wendel Miguel tomorrow morning.
Garcia and Solis toppled Adamson University’s Rence Melgar and JP Yude in their playoff for the last Final Four spot 27-29, 21-17, 15-11. Down in the final set against heavy favorites National University’s Fauzi Ismail and Madz Gampong, FEU’s substitute player Jeremiah Barrica saved the Tamaraws’ season and keyed their 21-17, 20-22, 15-11 win.
The Bulldogs held a 6-3 lead in the third set when Barrica replaced Solis and scored their next three points. The rookie then scavenged four more points to lead FEU to a 13-10 takeover and seal the win.
The Tamaraws will take on UP tomorrow at 9 am. UST face the winner in the Finals later on the same day.
The Maroons also scored a win against NU in the morning to secure their first Finals berth in more than four years, 21-15, 21-15.
UAAP Season 79 Men’s Beach Volleyball Day 4 Standings
October 7, 2016 – Sands, SM by the Bay
UST 7-0
UP 5-2
NU 4-3
FEU 4-3
AdU 4-3
ADMU 3-4
DLSU 1-6
UE 0-7
