NU Bulldogs. UAAP PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — National University overcame University of the Philippines in five sets, 25-16, 20-25, 26-24, 23-25, 15-12, to remain unscathed in the UAAP Season 85 men’s volleyball tournament on Wednesday at Philsports Arena.
The Bulldogs failed to close out the game in the fourth and went down, 9-10, in the decider. But the defending champions restored order, scoring five straight points to reach match point, 14-10. Ken Malinis delivered the game-clinching cross-court attack after NU committed back-to-back errors.
Malinis led NU with 24 points from 21 attacks, while Nico Almendras chipped in 21 points, 10 receptions, and nine digs to give their school a league-leading 4-0 record and extend their winning streak to 22 games dating back to Season 81.
“We won but credit to the UP team because we really struggled even in the sets we won. We still have a lot of lapses to address,” said NU coach Dante Alinsunurin in Filipino. “We have to learn playing in this kind of situation because it’s still a long way to go for us.”
UP remained winless in four games despite the 28-point explosion of Angelo Lagando while Louis Gamban chipped in 12 points.
Meanwhile, University of Santo Tomas also staved off a winless but gritty Adamson side in five sets, 25-21, 20-25, 23-25, 25-22, 15-6, to keep the solo second place with an improved 3-1 record.
Jay Dela Noche led the way for the Golden Spikers with 24 points. Josh Ybanez had 20 points, while GBoy De Vega provided the spark for UST with 16 points, including the match-clinching spike.
UST coach Odjie Mamon was not pleased with their win after they gave up 49 errors.
“The boys lost focused in the second set.” Story of our life — service error, attack error from GBoy (De Vega), and there were also times that we got disadvantages from the officiating, although it should not be bearing for us,” said Mamon in Filipino. “They are the ones playing on the court. We still have to focus more internally and instill our system.”
Adamson slipped to 0-4 with Jude Aguilar propelling the Falcons with 15 points.