UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas extended its winning streak in the UAAP Season 87 High School Boys’ Volleyball tournament to six with a commanding 25-6, 25-7, 25-7 sweep of University of the Philippines Integrated School on Wednesday at the Paco Arena in Manila.
The league-leading Junior Golden Spikers aim to complete a first-round sweep when they face the Far Eastern University-Diliman Baby Tamaraws—who earlier defeated the De La Salle Zobel (DLSZ) Junior Spikers 25-17, 25-19, 25-16—on Saturday at 11 a.m. in the same venue.
“Yung skills nila, na-develop sila ngayon. Nagkaroon kami ng setter and meron naman kaming tunay na libero. ‘Yun ‘yung pinakamalaking factor kasi last year wala kaming setter. Last year ang setter namin si Kalel (Legaspi). So, nag-step up lang ‘yung mga bata and ngayon nabuo lang ‘yung lineup namin. At kahit ‘yung mga second stringers namin, maaasahan mo pagdating sa laro,” said head coach Aying Esteban after the match that lasted for 42 minutse.
Even with the second unit in the second set, UST’s intensity never wavered, limiting UPIS to single digits and holding them to just one point in that set.
UST peppered UPIS’s defense with 33 attacks and 12 aces, nine of which came from middle blocker Zach Maude. Maude stayed on the floor after entering the second set in place of Season 86 Best Middle Blocker Sean Cruz.
Reigning MVP Jancris Ayco and Gherick Luston contributed seven points each, while captain-libero Legaspi and Andrei Amaneo anchored the defense with four digs apiece.
UPIS’s top scorer, Marcos Bamba, was limited to just one point—a single off-the-block hit in the second set—while Terren Villanueva and Areef Gamon each managed one attack in the third. Marco Maramag added one block in the first set for UPIS.
Ahead of their showdown with the Baby Tamaraws, Esteban urged his players to focus on their own game, saying, “Sabi ko sa kanila, huwag kayong tumingin sa numbers. Ang tignan niyo is ‘yung paano kayo gagalaw sa loob ng court.”
For FEU-D, team captain Zedrick Calimlim led the way with 13 points, 12 of which came from attacks, while Kenneth Maliwanag contributed 11 spikes among his 12 points as the Baby Tams needed just 62 minutes to beat the Junior Green Spikers.
Eldrielle Manlapaz came off the bench to provide a spark for the Baby Tamaraws, scoring 11 points. Briz Landicho orchestrated the offense with 17 excellent sets and added five points, including three blocks and two aces.
For DLSZ, Mario Roxas was the lone bright spot with 13 points, while Kyle Aure and Jarette Failana contributed four and three points, respectively.
The Junior Spikers dropped to a 2-4 win-loss record and will face the 3-3 Adamson Baby Falcons on Sunday at 9 a.m., still at the Paco Arena.
Meanwhile, UPIS fell to 0-6, tied with Ateneo.
Both winless squads will face off later that day at 11 a.m. to close the first round of eliminations.
