FEU snaps Tiger Spikers’ eight-game streak in five-set duel
By Ernest Martin Tuazon
The UST Tiger Spikers (10–2) saw their eight-game winning streak come to an end with a five-set loss against the final four-hungry FEU Tamaraws (7–6), 21–25, 25–22, 25–21, 21–25, 10–15, in the UAAP Season 85 men’s volleyball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena on April 23, Sunday morning.
A crucial 5–2 spurt by FEU in the fifth set was the separation they needed to hand UST their first loss since March 4, where the Tiger Spikers previously faced the NU Bulldogs.
The fourth set was once knotted at 18-all, but the Tiger Spikers gave up a 7–3 run to their Morayta neighbors to allow a deciding fifth set, 21–25.
UST once led by three in the fourth set through four straight points by Josh Ybañez and Charles Magpayo before FEU sparked the said run.
The University failed to carry their momentum in the fourth set as they ended the prior two sets by sneaking through the Tamaraw’s defense with five consecutive markers and banking on the latter’s errors.
UST dominated the attack department by 14 markers, 68–54, but their errors yet again proved to be a main factor in the conclusion of their eight-game streak.
The Tiger Spikers committed 45 errors compared to FEU’s 26, with UST posting an average of 10 errors per set in today’s duel.
Ybañez top scored anew for UST with 28 markers, while Magpayo and Gboy de Vega chipped in 15 and 10 points in the loss, respectively.
The Tiger Spikers will next match up against the undefeated NU Bulldogs in a high-stakes affair for playoff implications on April 23, Wednesday, at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan. A UST win means that a traditional final four format will be implemented in the playoffs.
