UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas (UST) preserved its unbeaten run after sweeping San Beda University, 26-24, 25-20, 25-22, inch closer to claiming the first semifinal berth in the men’s division of the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Season 2 Collegiate Conference on Wednesday at the Arena in San Juan City.
Skipper Manuel Medina and Tyrone Carodan provided the firepower for the Tiger Spikers, finishing with 15 and 14 points, respectively, to keep their hold on the top spot with an immaculate 6-0 win-loss record, just a win away from being the first team to enter the semifinals.
Jayvee Sumagaysay was also instrumental with 12 points. Timmy Tajanlangit made 31 excellent sets, while libero Lester Sawal took care of the floor with 19 excellent sets of 28 attempts.
“Lagi ko lang sila nireremind sa goal namin na which is to master (our game plan). Kasi ‘yung preparation namin is mastery pa lang ng skills talaga and then ang aim ko talaga is mabigyan ko ng exposure ‘yung mga bago,” said UST Head Coach Odjie Mamon, who will eye the first semifinals berth against UP (4-2) on Sunday at 11 a.m.
“Kaya lang at the rate we’re going mas nagfofocus ako, nagpalit ako ng strategy na magfocus sa starter. Ang hirap kasi na kapag UAAP na doon ka pa lang maghahanap ng tamang combination so as early as now gino-groom ko na ‘yung, pito na ‘yun,” Mamon added.
The Tiger Spikers needed to escape the Red Spikers in a tight 66-minute encounter after they squandered a 15-11 lead in the third set as San Beda equalized it at 19-all.
Umandal and Carodan gave UST a 21-19 breather before Jeffrey Losa stopped the bleeding and trimmed it to a one-point deficit. But the two Espanya-based spikers once again scored back-to-back hits to put their team at match-point, 24-21, until San Beda committed a crucial overreaching to hand the win to its foes.
San Beda’s top scorer, Jomaru Amagan, was limited to three points with Losa took charge with 16 points including 10 digs out of 14 attempts in a losing cause.
The Red Spikers fell to 2-4 record tied with De La Salle Green Spikers at seventh place. San Beda battles FEU (3-3) on Saturday at 11 a.m.
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