With more than a week left in the elimination round, the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Spikers gained ground in a tight race to the Final Four with a five-set win over the De La Salle University Green Spikers, 28-30, 25-23, 25-20, 16-25, 15-11, at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
After trading a tight first two sets, the Green Spikers had a great chance to take the third frame. Leading 8-2, La Salle’s reception began to unravel, allowing UST to slowly nip away at the lead before charging ahead, 22-17. Not even a late timeout could save La Salle, as UST waltzed to a 2-1 lead.
The Green Spikers regained their edge in the fourth frame, taking a 23-13 lead to quickly force a decider. As the match hung in the balance, clutch serves from UST’s Jerico Jose buoyed the Tiger Spikers to a game-breaking 14-10 lead. A La Salle miscommunication sealed the match for UST.
“Medyo maayos-ayos ang execution namin doon sa prepared na set plays. We stuck to the game plan and talagang pilit na iniiwas sa main passer nila [La Salle] ang service namin,” said UST head coach Odjie Mamon.
“Although nag-e-error kami, deserving naman na i-risk kumbaga hindi outright point per madali sa amin na makapuntos.”
Mamon was particularly impressed with how his team had rallied from the brink of defeat.
“Sabi ko wag silang magalit ako lang (noong fifth set). Sinabi ko na ilaro na lang nila kasi nasa kamay na nila [ang kapalaran nila]. Wala na kaming magagawa roon eh. Nag-respond naman sila saka pinag-aralan talaga namin ang La Salle like more than three weeks,” he added.
Four Tiger Spikers tallied double-digit scoring outputs, with Manuel Medina leading the way with 15 points, while Jose added 14.
UST’s 6-6 record puts them at a tie with the Far Eastern University for the third seed. A win on Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena against the eliminated Adamson University Falcons (3-9) could propel them back to the Final Four, depending on the outcome of the other weekend matches.
Sophomore Geriant Bacon and veteran Arjay Onia led La Salle with 17 points apiece.
The Green Spikers still hold an outside shot of making the Final Four ,but they will need to beat undefeated defending champs Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles (12-0) on Saturday, also at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The Scores
UST (3) – Medina 15, Jose 14, Sumagaysay 13, Bautista 12, Carodan 9, Buro 4, Tajanlangit 3, Samonte 0, Francisco (L)
DLSU (2) – Bacon 17, Dumago 17, Onia 16, Delos Reyes 7, Jose 7, Del Pilar 6, Asia G. 4, Marco 0, Woo 0, Movido (L)
