University of Santo Tomas said not today to Far Eastern University.
The fourth-seeded Golden Spikers stayed alive after slaying the top-ranked Tamaraws, 25-23, 25-19, 28-26, to force a rubber match in the UAAP Season 86 Men’s Volleyball Final Four, Sunday in front of 4,505 fans inside the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
This is the first time this season that UST defeated FEU after getting swept in the elimination round, 26-28, 25-21, 25-21, 21-25, 12-15 in the first round, and 23-25, 27-25, 22-25, 15-25 in the second round.
The Golden Spikers and the Tamaraws will battle it out once more for a Finals spot on Wednesday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
“During the huddle prior to the match, i-nemphasize ko sa players to put some pressure in them na do-or-die kami. We lose, that’s it bakasyon na,” said UST head coach Odjie Mamon. “Pero if they want to realize their goals, they have to give it their all para we get to live another day.”
Defending three-time champion and second-ranked National University and No. 3 De La Salle begin their Final Four duel on Wednesday also at the Big Dome.
It was Gboy de Vega who held the ground for the Golden Spikers when the Tamaraws rallied back to force a 24-all scoreline in the third set after trailing 21-23.
The 22-year-old outside spiker gave UST three match points, two of which were answered by Tamaraws’ Andrei Delicana and JJ Javelona for a 27-26 lead for the Golden Spikers.
Josh Ybañez, though, did not waste De Vega’s third match point hit, going for a down-the-line spike off a broken play for the UST win in one hour and 36 minutes.
“Sobrang saya namin ngayon na nanalo kami pero hindi pa tapos, kailangan pa namin sila talunin ulit,” said the reigning MVP, who had 16 points, 13 receptions, and six digs while getting the back up he needed.
Dux Yambao steered UST to four double-digit scorers with 17 excellent sets as Sherwin Umandal registered his best game of the season with 14 points on 14-of-24 clip in spikes.
De Vega also finished with 10 points to go with 19 excellent receptions while Popoy Colinares tallied 10 points as well built on four blocks and one ace.
The Golden Spikers also outscored their foes in spiking and blocking departments, 50-41 and 9-6, while also minimizing their errors to just 19.
Dryx Saavedra spearheaded the Tamaraws with 14 points while Martin Bugaoan and Delicana chipped in 10 and nine points, respectively.