University of Santo Tomas stayed alive in the race for the last twice-to-beat incentive in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Men’s Volleyball Tournament after cruising past the University of the Philippines, 25-14, 25-17, 25-16, on Sunday morning at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
With their third straight win, the Golden Spikers improved to a 9-4 win-loss record, remaining within striking distance of defending champions National University, which currently sits in second place with a 10-2 slate.
However, if NU beats also-ran De La Salle University in a game ongoing as of posting time, the Bulldogs will clinch the last playoff incentive and formally complete the Final Four matchups.
An NU victory would seal the postseason pairings, with top-seeded Far Eastern University taking on fourth-seeded Ateneo de Manila University, while the twice-to-beat Bulldogs would face the third-ranked Golden Spikers.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“Again, holding against hope, we want a playoff match [for the twice-to-beat advantage], pero siyempre, hindi namin hawak ‘yon [at] it’s beyond our control. ‘’Yon lang lagi kong sinasabi sa mga players ko na we do what we can, and we just pray,” UST head coach Odjie Mamon said.
“Yung manalo in a dominant fashion maganda para morale-boosting. Bukod doon, yung build-up namin going into the Final Four, mas maganda magkaroon ng confidence. Tapos, right now, hinahayaan ko sila mag-enjoy and mag-explore pero under control dapat,” he added.
The Fighting Maroons held an early 9-6 cushion in the third set, but the Golden Spikers responded emphatically, unleashing a 15-3 run capped by two Josh Ybañez aces and a JJ Macam crosscourt hit to build an insurmountable 21-12 lead.
That surge proved decisive, as UST leaned on back-to-back backrow hits from Al-Bukharie Sali and Ybañez, along with Macam’s game-winning ace, to complete the straight-sets victory in just 69 minutes.
Two-time MVP Ybañez powered the Golden Spikers with 17 points, nine coming in the third set, on 11-of-21 kills, four aces, and two blocks, along with eight excellent receptions and three excellent digs.
Trevor Valera added 11 points on eight attacks and three blocks, while Gboy de Vega contributed seven points, four excellent receptions, and two excellent digs.
Vryvin Catinsag finished with six points on five attacks and one block, Sali also had six points, while Joncriz Ayco and Macam chipped in five points each.
In a potential preview of the Final Four, UST will conclude its eliminations against NU this Wednesday, April 22, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Meanwhile, after a promising 2-1 start, the Fighting Maroons dropped 10 of their next 11 games, finishing Season 88 in last place with a 3-11 record.
Adamson University also ended its Season 88 campaign at 3-11, but the Soaring Falcons hold the tiebreaker after sweeping both elimination round meetings against UP.
Grayhood Baylon led UP in the loss with nine points on an efficient 8-of-11 attacking clip, while Angelo Lipata added seven points and 14 excellent receptions in his final game for the Fighting Maroons.
Nigerian wing spiker Olayemi Raheem, who tweaked his right foot after landing on teammate Milven Francisco at the 7-5 mark of the second set, finished Season 88 with 282 total points.
UP will head into Season 89 with a largely intact core, with only Lipata set to graduate from the program.
