The UST Golden Spikers bounced back in emphatic fashion, defeating the La Salle University Green Spikers, 25-23, 25-22, 15-25, 25-19, to notch their first win of the UAAP Season 88 men’s volleyball tournament at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
UST controlled the first two sets with disciplined offense and solid reception, but La Salle responded in the third frame.
Behind Chris Hernandez, Yoyong Mendoza, and Joshua Magalaman, the Green Spikers capitalized on 10 Golden Spikers errors to seize momentum and force a fourth set.
The Golden Spikers, however, refused to let the match slip further.
UST Hangs Tough for First Win
Season 86 MVP Josh Ybañez and Season 87 Rookie of the Year JJ Macam steadied the ship in the fourth set, delivering timely points to secure the victory and avoid a deciding fifth frame.
“We made some adjustments nung match-up namin. Effective siya nung first two sets, pero nung third set, nagkaroon ng adjustments ‘yung La Salle, so naibigay namin ‘yung third set. Overall, okay naman ‘yung performance, na-hit ‘yung goals and objectives,” said head coach Odjie Mamon.
Ybañez carried the scoring load with 22 points built on 21 attacks and 1 block, along with 11 excellent receptions. Macam and Trevor Valera added 9 points apiece.
For La Salle, Issa Ousseini paced the team with 16 points from 10 attacks, 4 blocks, and 1 ace. Hernandez followed with 15 markers and 9 excellent receptions. Eugene Gloria tallied 9 points and 10 excellent receptions, while Rui Ventura chipped in 8.
UST aims to sustain its momentum when it faces the Ateneo Blue Eagles on Wednesday, February 22, at 9:00 a.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Later that day at 11:00 a.m., La Salle takes on the UP Fighting Maroons as it searches for its first win of the season.
