The University of Santo Tomas Golden Spikers and the De La Salle University Green Spikers won their respective matches against the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons and the Adamson University Soaring Falcons on Wednesday, April 23.
The Golden Spikers and the Green Spikers are still tied in the standings with an identical 9-4 win-loss record, behind league leaders Far Eastern University Tamaraws and National University Bulldogs, who already have the twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four.
The final ranking of the España-based and Taft-based squads will determine which team they will face in the final four. The team finishing in the third spot will face the Bulldogs, while the team finishing in the fourth spot will take on the Tamaraws.
Here’s everything you missed from yesterday’s games of the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Volleyball Tournament.
10
The University of Santo Tomas Golden Spikers recorded 10 service aces in their 25-17, 25-20, 25-11 victory against the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons. In comparison, the Diliman-based squad had zero aces.
Josh Ybañez led the Golden Spikers with 15 points in 12 attacks and three aces, while Jan Julian Macam and Popoy Colinares contributed 11 points apiece. Jay Rack De La Noche added 10 points in nine attacks and an ace.
For the Fighting Maroons, Olayemi Raheem was the lone bright spot as he scored 10 points in nine attacks and a block.
After the game, Golden Spikers assistant coach Benjamin Mape admitted that their training has become more intense as the elimination rounds come to a close. He said, “‘Yung preparation namin towards the last games of this tournament, medyo intense talaga. Sa ginawa ng mga bata ngayon, natuwa kaming mga coaches kasi ‘yung mga pina-practice namin during the Holy Week break, nakita naman namin. Even though hindi pa siya ganoon kakinis, may improvement pa kami na mapapakita.”
The University of Santo Tomas will end their elimination round against the defending champions, National University Bulldogs, on Sunday, April 27, at 9 am. Later that day, the University of the Philippines will end their season against the Adamson University Soaring Falcons at 11 am.
26
Noel Kampton once again led the De La Salle University Green Spikers as he scored 26 points in the team’s 25-20, 27-25, 24-26, 25-17 victory against Adamson University Soaring Falcons.
Kampton had 21 attack points, four blocks, and an ace. Glen Rui Ventura contributed 19 points in 17 attacks and two blocks, while Chris Hernandez added 11.
For the Soaring Falcons, Jude Aguilar scored 17 points in 16 attacks and a block, while Dan Russel Gutierrez contributed 16 points in 14 attacks and two blocks.
After the game, Green Spikers head coach Jose Roque said that his team needed to work on their mental toughness, especially in the Final Four. He said, “Siguro, it’s more of the mental aspect na lang kailangan namin i-work on. The technique and skills ay nandoon, pero it’s just that naghahabol kami, e, kaya hindi namin minsan makita kung paano kami maglaro as a team. ‘Yun ‘yung nagiging struggle namin. We are still on track on finding the right recipe para mapakita kung anong klaseng laro maibibigay ng DLSU.”
The De La Salle University will take on the Far Eastern University Tamaraws on Saturday, April 26, at 11 am. Meanwhile, Adamson University will end its season against the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons on Sunday, April 27, at 11 am.
