UST, FEU bag men’s, women’s volleyball titles at UAAP

The University of Santo Tomas (UST) Tiger Spikers bucked the odds to defeat champions Far Eastern University (FEU) in five-sets to bag the 70th UAAP men’s volleyball title Sunday night before a big crowd at The Arena in San Juan. Open spiker Rene Roque, who bagged the Most Valuable Player (MVP) trophy award, had a slow start but scored six crucial points down the stretch to help his team pull off the hard-earned victory. The victory was sweet for the España-based spikers as they dethroned an FEU-squad that has won three-straight UAAP men’s volleyball crown since 2005. The Morayta-based spikers were looking for a four-peat of sorts in Sunday's game but were stopped in their tracks by a UST squad determined to bring back lost glory in the sport. UST last won a men’s volleyball crown in 2003. The Tiger Spikers were led by the 22 points of Henry James Pecana, followed by John Paul Torres’ 13 and Rene John Balse who also contributed 13 markers. UST head coach Emil Lontoc said his boy’s composure proved to be the key to their five-set thriller victory. "When we lost the fourth set, I told the boys na sundin lang ang plays namin at i-contain si (Edjet) Mabbayad (FEU player)," Lontoc told GMANews.TV in a phone interview. "It was a good thing sumunod sila at nakuha namin ang korona.” Lontoc said that the boisterous FEU crowd did not rattle the morale of his players, who are mostly rookies and sophomores. "Prior to the start of the championship series, I told them (players) not to be affected by the crowd," he said. "Laruin lang nila ang mga plays at makukuha namin ang titolo." The victory was also sweet for graduating players Jerome Say and second setter Glenn Artajos as this was the first time they won a championship. FEU defeats Adamson In the women's division, FEU defeated the Adamson in five setsto the bag the title. FEU’s Wendyanne Semana was named MVP in the women’s division. The Lady Tamaraws last won the crown in the 2002-03 season. Felicitas Francisco, UAAP board becretary, and Fr. Ermito De Sagon, UAAP president, led the awarding ceremonies. Scores First Game (Women’s) FEU def. ADU (3-2): 14-25 , 25-19 , 23-25 , 25-21 , 15-9 Shakey's Best Player of the Game: Anna Camille Abanto Season 70 Most Valuable Player: Wendyanne Semana Second Game (Men’s) UST def. FEU (3-2): 25-20 , 23-25 , 25-19 , 20-25 , 15-11 Season 70 Most Valuable Player: Rene Roque

- GMANews.TV