The UST Golden Spikers snapped their losing streak in emphatic fashion, sweeping the La Salle Green Spikers, 25-18, 30-28, 25-23, in the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Volleyball Tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
UST halted La Salle’s four-game winning run behind a clutch performance from Josh Ybañez, who delivered on his 23rd birthday.
After dropping a tightly contested second set, the Green Spikers regrouped and built a 17-14 lead in the third behind Eugene Gloria, Issa Ousseini, and Yoyong Mendoza. But the Golden Spikers responded with a decisive 7-3 run, sparked by Gboy de Vega, to seize a 21-20 advantage.
Birthday Boy Seals UST Win
Both teams traded points down the stretch until a costly net-touch violation by Rui Ventura handed UST match point at 24-23. Ybañez then sealed the win with a service ace.
“Throughout his career, talagang yung tiwala ko naman kay Josh, nandiyan. Converted siya to libero bago pa siya bumalik sa puwesto niya, kaya may tiwala kami sa kanya,” said UST head coach Odjie Mamon.
“I can say para rin kay Sali na yung reintegration niya sa team; it’s been good kahit hindi pa ganon kataas yung percentage na gusto namin.”
Ybañez led UST with 23 points built on 16 attacks, 4 blocks, and 3 aces. Al-Bukhanie Sali added 10 points, while Trevor Valera and JJ Macam chipped in 8 points apiece.
Dux Yambao orchestrated the offense with 13 excellent sets, while Edriel Alabar anchored the defense with 13 excellent digs and 13 excellent receptions.
For La Salle, Gloria paced the team with 16 points and 13 excellent receptions, while Iman Hernandez recorded a triple-double with 10 points, 11 excellent digs, and 15 excellent receptions.
UST will face the FEU Tamaraws on Sunday, March 29, at 3:00 p.m. at the Quadricentennial Pavilion. Earlier that day, La Salle looks to bounce back against the UP Fighting Maroons at 9:00 a.m.
