Reigning MVP Josh Ybañez had a career-high 34 points as University of Santo Tomas recovered from an abysmal collapse in the first set to repeat over National University via reverse sweep, 28-30, 22-25, 25-23, 25-22, 15-9, in the UAAP Season 86 Men’s Volleyball Tournament at the SMART Araneta Coliseum on Sunday.
After a couple of 30-point games that ended in a loss, Ybañez finally emerged triumphant, firing 31-of-62 kills and scoring two of the Golden Spikers’ seven blocks.
“Masaya po ako kasi habang naglalaro syempre hindi ko kita yung score ko so as long as kaya kong magcontribute sa team sa kahit anong pamamaraan gagawin ko. Sobrang happy ako kasi I know it’s a collaborative effort hindi lang ako,” said Ybañez, who also logged 25 excellent receptions.
The Golden Spikers thus completed a head-to-head elimination round sweep of the Bulldogs.
UST leveled with Ateneo at 5-4 for joint-fourth with the latter holding the tiebreaker due to the “win over the other” rule.
UST opened the first set with a dominant 14-3 lead but melted down as NU stormed back to take first blood, 30-28, after back-to-back points by Obed Mukaba.
After giving up the second frame as well, the Golden Spikers recalibrated as Ybañez and spark plug Kenneth Salvador to extend UST’s life in the third, 25-23.
Then in the fourth, it was Gboy De Vega’s turn to lead UST as his back-to-back kills sent the game into a decider, 25-22.
The Golden Spikers just rode that momentum as they started the fifth set 9-4 courtesy of five straight points by De Vega, Ybañez, Popoy Colinares, and Sherwin Umandal en route to the reverse sweep in two hours and 21 minutes.
Sherwin Umandal chipped in 15 points while De Vega, who was in and out of the game, still delivered 11 points and 14 receptions.
“Hindi ko magagawa ang lahat kapag wala ang teammates ko at wala ang coaches. Thankful ako sa coaches na grabe yung trust na binibigay nila sa akin na ako ang magdrive sa team namin,” said Dux Yambao, who tallied 26 excellent sets and four points for UST.
The Golden Spikers hope to build on this huge win when they return on April 3 against Adamson University.
Jade Disquitado unloaded 20 points as the Bulldogs saw their seven-game winning run snapped to fall to 7-2 at solo second. Their other loss was a 25-23, 26-24, 25-19 defeat to UST as well.
Leo Aringo added 19 points in the losing cause while Nico Almendras and Obed Mukaba got 13 and 12, respectively.
NU will shoot to regain its winning ways on April 3 too against University of the East.
