Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team

News

UST outlasts NUNS in 4, moves one step closer to UAAP Boys Volleyball crown


By: Justine Anne Gaerlan

UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas moved within striking distance of taking the UAAP Season 87 High School Boys’ Volleyball Championship after an 18-25, 25-21, 28-26, 25-19 triumph over defending champion National University Nazareth School in Game 1 of the Finals on Wednesday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion in Manila.

The Junior Golden Spikers previously won their first and only UAAP High School Boys’ Volleyball Championship in Season 80 in 2018, with a victory over FEU-Diliman in the Finals.

UST will have the chance to secure its second overall title in Game 2 of the best-of-three series at 9 a.m. on Saturday at the same venue.

The final set began as a tight back-and-forth battle, but UST broke away with a decisive five-point run, extending their lead to eight.

NUNS responded with a three-point surge to keep their hopes alive, but the gap proved insurmountable.

Joncriz Ayco’s back-to-back attacks brought the Junior Golden Spikers to match point at 24-17.

Paolo Medino then delivered the final blow with a powerful kill, sealing the victory for UST.

UAAP-87-HSVB-NUNS-vs.-UST-Jeff-Abalos-Crisean-Cruz-2977 UST outlasts NUNS in 4, moves one step closer to UAAP Boys Volleyball crown News NU UAAP UST Volleyball  - philippine sports news

(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team

“Nung first set kasi nawala ‘yung receive namin, then ‘yung setter medyo binabagal niya, hindi ‘yun ‘yung ginagawa naming usual. So siguro masyado silang naha-hype doon sa ano. So minotivate ko lang sila na hindi ganyan ‘yung ginagawa natin sa training, hindi ‘yan ‘yung ginawa natin na dapat mangyari,” said UST head coach Clarence Esteban.

“So at least noong second set nagising sila na nung bumilis ‘yung set namin gumanda ‘yung receive, naging okay ‘yung laro namin.”

The Bullpups came out firing in the opening set, quickly seizing control with a 9-3 advantage, fueled by a three-point run.

#ReadMore  San Miguel survives NorthPort to advance to semis

The Junior Golden Spikers fought back to cut the deficit to 17-14 after a scoring spree of their own, but their momentum was cut short.

NUNS regained their grip on the set, stretching their lead to six behind an attack from Matthew Abut and a block by Irilis Kasim.

A service error from UST’s Rolf De Asis brought the Bullpups to set point, where Xandrex Ragusta notched a decisive kill to claim the first set.

The second set remained tightly contested until a 16-all deadlock, but John Paul Bautista took charge, delivering three straight kills that gave the Junior Golden Spikers a crucial three-point cushion.

That momentum proved enough to keep the Bullpups at bay.

An attack error from NUNS handed UST set point, and Ayco capitalized with an attack to close out the set, 25-21.

The fourth frame was a nail-biter, with both teams battling fiercely throughout the set.

An attack error by Abut pushed UST to match point, but he quickly redeemed himself with an attack to force a deuce.

The set saw two more deadlocks before Sean Cruz and Bautista combined for a crucial block to bring the Junior Golden Spikers back to match point.

Rain Dela Paz then delivered a clutch service ace to take the set, 28-26.

UAAP-87-HSVB-NUNS-vs.-UST-Yuan-Mendoza-2886 UST outlasts NUNS in 4, moves one step closer to UAAP Boys Volleyball crown News NU UAAP UST Volleyball  - philippine sports news

(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team

John Paul Bautista fired on all cylinders with 17 points, including 16-of-41 kills, a block, and 15 excellent receptions.

Medino contributed 16 points, 15 of which came from attacks, in a match that lasted two hours and three minutes.

Jefferson Abalos masterfully steered Junior Golden Spikers’ offense with 17 excellent sets.

#ReadMore  Aira Villegas' Olympic debut ends in bronze, falls short in Paris 2024 semis

On defense, Kalel Legaspi anchored the team with 15 digs.

Yuan Mendoza led the Bullpups with a game-high 18 points, including 15 from attacks.

Abut and Miguel Egger provided steady support with 15 points each.

Written By


You May Also Like

Basketball

Life’s challenges come and go, but for Far Eastern University-Diliman’s do-it-all guard Jheremy Godoy, the regret and pain of lost time and missed opportunities...

AdU

Adamson University’s title defense in the UAAP Season 87 High School Boys’ Basketball Tournament is off to a rough start, stumbling to a 1-3...

AdU

National University Nazareth School and University of Santo Tomas made history in the UAAP high school beach volleyball tournament, clinching their first-ever championships in...

CSB

The University of the East women’s volleyball program faces another wave of departures just weeks after its young core, led by Casiey Dongallo and...

ADMU

Ahead of their final rematch, Far Eastern University-Diliman and University of Santo Tomas secured dominant victories against De La Salle Zobel and Ateneo de...

ADMU

Adamson University and Far Eastern University-Diliman secured the final two spots in the UAAP Season 87 High School Boys’ Beach Volleyball semifinals, Saturday at...

ADMU

Adamson University locked in on business and secured the final girls’ semifinals berth in the UAAP Season 87 high school beach volleyball tournament, defeating...

Basketball

De La Salle Zobel star Kieffer Alas may have sealed the victory, but he made it clear—16-year-old guard Melvin Tailan and 17-year-old big man...

Advertisement