What was a shock in the first round turned into a statement in the second as the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons swept the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Spikers, 28-26, 25-18, 25-23, at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
The Maroons ended a four-game losing streak in the first round by sneaking past the Tiger Spikers in five sets. UP did not need as many frames to send UST into a four-game slide and stay in contention for a Final Four slot.
“Inassess ko yung first round namin. Tinignan ko kung ano pa ba yung kulang for them to have a winning attitude. The top three teams na nakalaban namen lahat ‘yun na-four sets namin, at nauuna pa kame parati kapag second set,” explained UP’s first year head coach Hans Chuacuco, who now has his team holding a 3-5 record. “Pero nawawala eh. Kasi kahit last one kame nakukuha pa sa amin ng kalaban. So yung missing link for me eh siguro mindset ng players ko plus their character.
“This is the kind of game I want them to play – the mental aspect and the game character,” the former Fighting Maroon furthered.
The Fighting Maroons took advantage of a characteristically error-prone UST side. Seeing a 23-19 lead dissipate, UP turned to veteran Wendel Miguel, who scored two crucial hits that gave the Maroons a 27-26 lead. UST winger Manuel Medina than slammed a hit wide, allowing the Maroons to draw first blood.
UST started the second set strong, grabbing a 9-3 lead. But the Tiger Spikers again fell into lull of errors, scoring just nine more pounts for the set and allowing UP to surge to a two-nil lead in sets.
The Maroons again fought back from an early deficit, wiping away an 8-5 UST lead to take the match into a heated conclusion. The Maroons sat at match point, 24-22, but a Miguel error threatened to take the match into another extension. UP, however, found reprieve after a combination play capped the win.
Miguel finished with 16 points while Mark Millete added 14.
The Fighting Maroons (3-5) are tied in the loss column with UST (3-5), Adamson (2-5), and DLSU (3-5). They take on the Green Spikers on Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Joshua Umandal topped the Tiger Spikers with 15 points while Arnold Bautista added 10.
The Tiger Spikers face defending champions Ateneo Blue Eagles (7-1) also on Saturday.
The Scores
UP (3) – Miguel 16, Millete 14, Castillo 8, San Pascual 7, Consuelo 6, Madrigalejos 1, Baldelovar 0, Nasol (L)
UST (0) – Umandal 15, Bautista 10, Medina 8, Carodan 4, Sumagaysay 4, Buro 2, Arbasto 1, Tajanlangit 1, Casillan 0, Corda 0, Icalina 0, Sawal (L)
