Manila — The University of Santo Tomas (UST) Junior Golden Spikers continued their dominant run in the UAAP Season 87 High School Boys’ volleyball tournament, defeating the University of the Philippines Integrated School (UPIS) with set scores of 25-6, 25-7, 25-7 at Paco Arena on Wednesday.
According to Philippines News Agency, middle blocker Zach Patrick Maude played a pivotal role in the victory, coming off the bench in the second set to score nine points, including four aces and one block, helping UST to maintain their unbeaten streak. This win marks UST’s sixth consecutive victory in the tournament. “Their skills, they have developed now. We had a setter and we had a true libero. That’s the biggest factor because last year we didn’t have a setter. Kalel (Legaspi) was our setter last year. So, the kids just stepped up and now, our lineup is complete. Even our second stringers, you can count on them when it comes to the game,” commented UST head coach Clarence Esteban on the team’s performance.
Defending champions, National University Nazareth School and University of the East, follow closely in the standings, each with a 5-1 record. UST players Gherick Luson and reigning MVP Joncriz Ayco each added seven points, while teammates John Paul Bautista and Jefferson Misael Abalos contributed five points apiece in the match. Chester Fritz Esteban, the team’s setter, registered nine excellent sets, while team captain-libero Kalel Legaspi and Andrei Amaneo each made four digs.
Looking ahead, UST aims to complete a sweep of the first round when they face Far Eastern University-Diliman (FEU-D) this Saturday. FEU-D recently secured a victory over De La Salle Zobel, enhancing their record to 3-3, tying with Adamson University for third place. FEU-D’s captain Zedrick Dave Calimlim led his team with 13 points and eight excellent receptions in their latest match.
As UST prepares for their upcoming game, Coach Esteban advises his players to maintain their focus, emphasizing performance over statistics. “I told them, don’t look at the numbers. Look at how you move inside the court,” he said, preparing his team for the challenges ahead.