UAAP: NU turns back UST to clinch men’s No. 2 seed, twice to beat
Leo Ordiales and the NU Bulldogs celebrate after beating UST Golden Spikers in the UAAP Season 88 men’s volleyball tournment. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Defending champion National University fended off the University of Santo Tomas, 25-22, 20-25, 25-23, 28-26, to take the No. 2 seed ahead of their Final Four duel in the UAAP Season 88 men’s volleyball tournament on Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
With the seedings now settled, the six-peat seeking Bulldogs, armed with a twice-to-beat advantage, face off against the Golden Spikers, who settled for No. 3, for the fourth time this season next week.
In their second meeting in three days, NU avenged its loss to UST last Wednesday and snapped a two-game skid that also includes a setback to La Salle.
The Bulldogs squandered a 19-15 lead in the fourth set after the Golden Spikers reached set point twice, the last at 25-24 after Josh Ybañez’s drop ball. An error by Sherwin Umandal and a joust by Buds Buddin put NU back in front, before Ybañez tied it anew.
Josh Ybañez and the UST Golden Spikers during a game against NU Bulldogs in the UAAP Season 88 men’s volleyball tournament. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
A service error by Vryvin Catinsag handed NU match point, 27-26, before Leo Ordiales sealed the win with a block on Ybañez’s backrow attempt.
“It’s tiring to keep losing, so when we finally won, I was really happy because all the work we put in the past few days paid off,” said Ordiales in Filipino.
“We’re happy to get the No. 2 spot, but it doesn’t end here. We’ll face them again. I’m just glad we’re finding our rhythm again. In our previous games, we struggled, but now we’re slowly getting back up and returning to who we are as a team,” he added.
Ordiales led the Bulldogs with 22 points, while Buddin delivered 20 points and 21 excellent receptions. Jade Disquitado had 10 points, 15 excellent receptions, and eight digs, as setter Greg Ancheta paced the Bulldogs with 30 excellent sets.
“I still trust my players because I’ve been with them for a long time. I know what they’re capable of. In the game earlier, they wanted to finish it quickly, but I told them not to rush. What’s important is that we stay focused on what we want to do on the court, just play our game,” said NU coach Dante Alinsunurin in Filipino.
UST leaned on presumptive Season 88 MVP Ybañez, who had 20 points, 16 receptions, and eight digs. GBoy De Vega had 13 points, while Trevor Valera and Sherwin Umandal added 12 each.
