Ateneo spoils Josh Ybañez' return in four-set upset vs. UST in UAAP men's volleyball

Ateneo de Manila University recovered from a third-set hiccup to turn back the streaking University of Santo Tomas, 25-20, 25-22, 22-25, 25-21, in the UAAP Season 87 men's volleyball tournament on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena. 

The Blue Eagles unleashed a huge run to end the four-set thriller and improve to 3-2, snapping the four-game winning streak of the Golden Spikers as the latter fell to a 4-2 card. 

Down 15-14 in the fourth frame, Ateneo took advantage of an error-plagued UST with Ken Batas imposing his will on the service line. With Batas unloading heavy serves, his teammate Jian Salarzon grabbed back-to-back attacks off overpassed balls from UST before an error of their own from the Golden Spikers made it a 20-15 lead for Ateneo. 

The lefty Amil Pacinio then continued his brilliance, knocking down a killer from the opposite side while another UST infraction, this time an attack error from Jay Rack Dela Noche, had Ateneo cruising to the match point at 24-19. 

UST would still save two points, but Pacinio made sure to put the punctuation as Ateneo bounced back from a previous loss to Far Eastern University. 

Batas top-scored with 21 points together with 10 receptions while Pacinio and Salarzon tallied 17 and 12 markers apiece. 

UST, which saw the return of top spiker Josh Ybañez after a four-game absence, relied on Jan Macam's team-high 14 points, Dela Noche's 12, and Gboy De Vega's 11 points. As a team, UST committed a total of 35 errors against the 24 of Ateneo. 

In the first game, defending champion National University pulled off a 25-12, 25-15, 15-25, 25-22 win against University of the Philippines behind usual suspects Buds Buddin, Leo Aringo, and Leo Ordiales. 

Buddin exploded with 22 points anchored on 17 attacks, three aces, and two blocks while Aringo and Ordiales chipped in 16 and 14 markers each as the Bulldogs made it back-to-back wins with a 4-1 slate.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News