Tiger Spikers snap skid

c/o UAAP Media Team

Games Sunday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum

9 a.m. - UE vs UP (Men)
11 a.m. - NU vs FEU (Men)
1 p.m. - UE vs UP (Women)
3 p.m. - NU vs FEU (Women)

UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas stood firm against Noel Kampton’s 30-point outing, overcoming a third-set slip to outlast De La Salle University, 25-22, 25-22, 16-25, 25-22, and snap a three-game skid in the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Volleyball Tournament, Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Refusing to be rattled after Kampton powered La Salle to a dominant third-set win, the Golden Spikers regrouped and delivered in the clutch, securing their second victory over the Green Spikers this season and wheeling back to Final Four contention.

UST improved to 5-4, forcing a tie for fourth and fifth spots with La Salle. The Golden Spikers hold the tiebreak advantage due to their head-to-head wins.

“Thank you sa team for the wonderful birthday present. We’re back sa win column and about doon sa errors namin, doon sa ending nahihirapan, nadidistract to close out the game. Yun yung inayos namin actually for the past week, and I think it was quite a success,” said UST head coach Odjie Mamon, who celebrated his birthday last Friday.

(“Thank you to the team for the wonderful birthday present. We're back in the win column, and regarding our errors, especially at the end when we struggle and get distracted in closing out the game—that's what we worked on this past week. I think it was quite a success.")

The Golden Spikers were too poised to be broken by their third set loss, rediscovering their form in the fourth to clinch the victory.

Ahead by just 18-19 in the fourth period, UST made a 5-2 blitz courtesy of Josh Ybañez and JJ Macam to reach match point, 24-21.

Although Kampton managed to get a point back, Trevor Valera finished it for the Golden Spikers with a quick hit for the triumphant rebound after one hour and 51 minutes.

“Sobrang thankful talaga ako kasi always ko inaalala kagabi na birthday gift namin kay coach Odjie ay manalo ngayon. I think that’s the best na maibigay namin kay coach. Sa performance ko naman siguro mas kaya ko pa siyang lamangan,” said Ybañez, who experienced his first win this season.

(“I’m really grateful because last night, I kept thinking that the best birthday gift we could give Coach Odjie was a win today. I think that’s the best thing we could offer him. As for my performance, I believe I can still do better.")

Prior to this, UST lost all four games he played in.

The reigning MVP provided a personal season-high of 21 points on 15 spikes and six aces, along with 16 excellent receptions and four digs.

Dux Yambao orchestrated the offense with 27 excellent sets with five points as Popoy Colinares and Jay Rack Dela Noche notched 15 and 11 points, respectively.

Kampton delivered a career-high 30 points on 27-of-51 attacks to go with two aces and a block, but all went down the drain.

He was the only Green Spiker in double digits as Maglinao was the next highest scorer with eight points to go with 16 excellent receptions and four digs.

Both teams will be back on Wednesday, still at the Big Dome, with La Salle seeking a bounce back at 9 a.m. against Ateneo de Manila University and UST eyeing a win streak at 11 a.m. against Adamson University.