University of Santo Tomas ended a two-game skid with a 28-26, 20-25, 25-23, 26-24 four-set victory over National University in the V-League Men’s Collegiate Challenge at the Paco Arena in Manila on Sunday.
Jan Macam led the Golden Spikers with 14 points from 13 attacks, complemented by 11 excellent receptions and four excellent digs. He was supported by Gboy de Vega, who added 17 points.
The combined efforts of the UST mainstays were crucial, not only ending their losing streak but also handing their Sampaloc neighbors their first loss of the pre-season tournament in a rematch of the UAAP finals.
“The team is getting used to the system that we’re using right now. May improvement naman every game,” said UST head coach Odjie Mamon.
Trailing by two, 18-20, after a service error by Dux Yambao, De Vega took matters into his own hands late in the fourth set, scoring four of UST’s six points to tie the match at 24-all.
Known for their propensity for errors, the Golden Spikers benefited from two Bulldogs mistakes, including miscues by Jan Abadilla and Kharylle Parce, to secure their first win of the tournament.
Despite committing 10 errors in the third set, the Golden Spikers relied on middle blocker Poy Colinares for crucial defense and the offensive prowess of Gboy de Vega to take a 2-1 set lead.
“Inoutline ko lang sa kanila kung ano yung goal namin for joining this league. Tapos sinabi ko rin yung mga naging growth na hindi nila napapansin na meron na sila. Siguro nagkaroon lang sila ng confidence and it showed today,” he added.
Aringo led NU in the loss with 21 points from 20 attacks and five excellent receptions, while Abadilla and Buds Buddin each contributed 14 points.
UST will next face University of Perpetual Help System Dalta on Sunday, August 18, at the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig, while the Bulldogs will look to bounce back against Far Eastern University on Wednesday, August 21, at the same Pasig venue.
