Photo: UAAP

 

By Nate Castillo

 

University of Santo Tomas put itself in a good position to vie for a Final Four twice-to-beat advantage after beating University of the Philippines, 25-14, 25-17, 25-16, in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 men’s volleyball tournament on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

 

Copping a third straight win for a 9-4 win-loss record, the Golden Spikers can snatch a semis incentive and the No. 2 seeding with another victory over six-peat-seeking National University on Wednesday.

 

Photo: UAAP

 

Fate favored UST in the chase for the last Final Four bonus after also-ran De La Salle University scored an end of elimination round upset over the Bulldogs in a gutsy 16-25, 26-24, 20-25, 26-24, 17-15, escape.

 

The Green Spikers’ win that snapped a three-game slide for a 6-8 finish, pulled NU down to a 10-3 slate and formally handed league-leading semis twice-to-beat Far Eastern University (12-1) the top-seeding in the next round against Ateneo de Manila University.

 

A win by the Golden Spikers over the Bulldogs will force a playoff for a twice-to-beat advantage. If NU wins, it will occupy the No. 2 seeding outright with a Final Four incentive against the same rival.

 

“Winning in a dominant fashion is morale-boosting. It builds our confidence heading into the Final Four,” UST head coach Odjie Mamon said.

 

Photo: UAAP

 

Two-time Most Valuable Player Josh 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.

 

The Fighting Maroons ended their season in last place with a 3-11 record, tied with Adamson University.

 

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.

 

Meanwhile, the Green Spikers broke a 12-all deadlock in the tightly contested fifth set with back-to-back point off a Luke Macatangay attack error followed by a Chris Hernandez off-the-block hit.

 

Leo Ordiales and Buds Buddin responded for the Bulldogs to knot it at 14. NU took match point on a MJ Fortuna attack error, but La Salle answered with graduating middle blocker Eric Layug scoring, followed by a Hernandez crosscourt strike.

 

A successful block touch challenge called by La Salle following a Buddin crosscourt hit sealed the Green Spikers’ head-to-head elims sweep over NU in the two-hour, 12-minute contest.

 

Hernandez and Yoyong Mendoza had 17 points each while Eugene Gloria added 16 points, 19 excellent receptions, and 10 excellent digs for the Green Spikers.

 

NU saw its five-game winning streak snapped despite the 28-point explosion of Ordiales and Buddin’s 16 markers.