University of Santo Tomas overcame an error-filled third set to defeat De La Salle University, 25-23, 25-22, 15-25, 25-19, marking their first win of the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Men’s Volleyball Tournament on Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
Raring to bounce back from a straight-sets loss to five-peat defending champions National University Bulldogs on opening day, the Golden Spikers shook off 10 errors in the third set and relied on fourth-set heroes two-time MVP Josh Ybañez, Season 87 Rookie of the Year JJ Macam, and rookie opposite spiker Joncriz Ayco to secure their Season 88 breakthrough.
With the victory, UST joined Ateneo de Manila University and the University of the Philippines as joint third-placers, all holding identical 1-1 win-loss records. La Salle, meanwhile, remained the lone winless team in the eight-team field after separate losses to Far Eastern University and UST.
Earlier in the day, the Blue Eagles outlasted the Olayemi Raheem-led Fighting Maroons in four sets, 21-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-18.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“We made some adjustments nung match-up namin. Effective siya nung first two sets, pero nung third set, nagkaroon ng adjustments yung La Salle, so naibigay namin yung third set. Overall, okay naman yung performance, na-hit yung goals and objectives,” said Golden Spikers head coach Odjie Mamon.
As UST built a two-set lead, La Salle fought back in the third set, capitalizing on the Golden Spikers’ 10 errors and late hits from Chris Hernandez, Yoyong Mendoza, and Joshua Magalaman to dominate, 25-15, and extend the match.
However, UST bounced back in the fourth set, relying on early hits by Ybañez and timely miscues by La Salle to build a comfortable five-point lead, 11-6, which proved insurmountable.
La Salle narrowed the gap to 18-16, but UST closed out the set—and the match—thanks to an Ayco off-the-block hit, a Eugene Gloria attack miscue, and a Ybañez off-speed shot, securing the four-set victory.
“This game, sobrang importante sa amin ito kasi lagi sinasabi sa amin na it’s a must-win game para sa amin kasi it will help us change the mood sa training. Last time kasi, sobrang bigat ng nararamdaman kasi galing kami sa talo sa NU,” said Ybañez, who contributed 20 attacks alongside 11 excellent receptions.
Macam and Valera added nine points each in the bounce-back triumph, while Sherwin Umandal contributed seven points and two excellent digs.
Team captain Dux Yambao delivered 15 excellent sets and three points, while Legaspi, a product of the Junior Golden Spikers program, showcased poise beyond his years with 14 excellent digs and nine excellent receptions.
UST looks to sustain its momentum when it faces Ateneo on Wednesday, February 22, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Hernandez led La Salle in the loss with 15 points on 14 attacks, along with nine excellent receptions and five excellent digs, while Cameroonian middle blocker Issa Ousseini had 16 points, including 10 attacks, four blocks, and two aces.
Gloria added nine points on seven attacks, alongside 10 excellent receptions and three excellent digs, while Rui Ventura contributed eight points and three excellent digs. Ezer Regidor delivered 18 excellent sets and one block point in the loss.
La Salle, enduring its worst start since opening Season 81 (2019) at 0-3, will seek its first win when it clashes with UP on the same date and venue.
