UST Golden Spikers Sherwin Umandal during a UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball Final Four game. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — University of Santo Tomas rookie opposite spiker Sherwin Umandal has a chance to fulfill the dream of his brother and former Golden Spiker Jau with his first Finals appearance in the UAAP Season 86 men’s volleyball tournament.
Jau, one of the biggest men’s volleyball stars, may have not reached the UAAP Finals in his three seasons with UST but he couldn’t be prouder and happier for his younger brother Sherwin, who helped the Golden Spikers become the first No.4 seed team to reach the volleyball finals.
“As his big bother, I am proud to see his achievements because during my time we didn’t reach the Finals,” the Cignal HD Spikers star told Inquirer Sports. But at least it’s my brother’s turn to be in the Finals with UST.”
UAAP SCHEDULE: Season 86 volleyball Finals UST vs NU
The younger Umandal delivered the crucial attacks and finished with 16 points and seven digs as UST overcame the twice-to-beat No.1 seed Far Eastern University, 25-18, 21-25, 26-24, 26-24, to book its second straight trip to the finals on Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Hours after his brother’s triumph, Jau backstopped Bryan Bagunas with 15 points to put Cignal on the cusp of ruling the 2024 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference after beating Criss Cross in Game 1 with a 27-25, 23-25, 25-21, 25-19 win at Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
The Philippine men’s volleyball team mainstay is proud of Sherwin’s growth under his college coach Odjie Mamon.
READ: UST makes history as first fourth seed to reach UAAP volleyball Finals
“I’m proud of his performance and the way he fights for UST,” said the older Umandal.
For his part, Sherwin is happy to be living the dream of playing for UST from watching Jau during his playing years. His older brother was with team from 2018 to 2020, where he only reached the Final Four in his first year.
“I started dreaming of playing for UST when Kuya played with them. Now I was given the chance to play for UST too and we’re in the Finals. I’m very happy,” said the rookie opposite spiker, who spelled the difference in the Final Four to complete the daunting twice-to-win task.
FILE–Former UST star Jau Umandal. –INQUIRER.net
The UST young gun is offering his upcoming first Finals stint to Jau, hoping he could fulfill his older brother’s dream to bring glory to the school and repay his all-out support every game.
“Every game he never fails to send me a message, ‘Congrats beh!. Ang galing mo (Congratulations brother, you did well!) !” and before the game, ‘laruin mo lang yung laro mo and ipakita mo lang yung dapat mong laro (just play your game),” said Sherwin.
Sherwin could be the x-factor for UST in its upcoming finals series against National University, which hasn’t beaten their team this season.