The UST Golden Spikers ended the first round on a positive note after holding off the Adamsons Soaring Falcons in five sets in the UAAP Season 86 men's volleyball tournament on Saturday, March 13.
The University of Santo Tomas Golden Spikers grabbed its second-straight win after escaping the Adamson University Soaring Falcons in a five-set thriller, 18-25, 25-21,19-25, 25-23, 15-13, in the UAAP Season 86 men's volleyball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on Saturday, March 16.
The two teams went back-and-forth throughout the match, forcing a fifth and deciding set.
In the final frame, UST started strong as they built a slim lead over Adamson, which they later extended to four points at 10-6.
After exchanging attack points at 13-10, the Golden Spikers secured the victory after two straight errors by the Falcons.
Josh Ybañez led UST with 24 big points to go along with 26 excellent receptions and six excellent digs. Gboy De Vega added 20 markers and 20 excellent receptions.
Francis Casas and John Gay, on the other hand, contributed 15 and 14 points, respectively for Adamson.
With the win, the Golden Spikers moved to 4-3 to gain the solo fourth spot, while the Falcons slid to 3-4 for fifth.
Meanwhile, in the first game, National University Bulldogs ended the first round with a clean sweep of the De La Salle University Green Spikers, 25-20, 25-16, 23-25, 25-21.
The game between NU and La Salle was delayed for an hour and 30 minutes due to a dead spot on the court, which had to be fixed by UAAP officials.
Once the issues were fixed, the Bulldogs showed why they are the defending champions as they overpowered the streaking Green Spikers.
After pulling away in the end of the first led by Joshua Retamar, who scored three of the last four points, NU flexed its muscle in the second frame for a comfortable set victory at 25-16.
La Salle, however, would show some fight, fending off any NU rally in the third set to give some hope in the match.
But in the fourth set, the Bulldogs said enough is enough as the trio of Leo Aringo, Jade Disquitado, and Nico Almendras flexed their muscles against the Green Spikers.
NU sealed the win after two-straight points by Obed Mukaba and a service error by La Salle.
Aringo led the Bulldogs with 20 points on 18 attacks and two blocks, while Disquitado and Almendras combined for 32 markers.
Retamar also had a stellar outing with five points and 22 excellent sets.
JM Ronquillo, on the other hand, had 21 points in La Salle's loss.