Tiger Spikers thrash La Salle

Jan. 25, 5:34 p.m. - THE TIGER Spikers overcame a jittery start to topple a stubborn De La Salle University, 21-25, 25-19, 29-27, and 25-20, and earn their first win in the second round of eliminations in the UAAP volleyball tournament.

Salvador Depante led UST with 20 points, including 18 attacks, while Mark Alfafara and Jayson Ramos tossed in 18 and 17 markers, respectively, in the game earlier today.

“Medyo nag-step-up na ang mga players pero hindi pa rin maayos ang blocking at receiving namin. Kailangan pa rin na ibalik ‘yung dating form ng UST n’ung first round,” head coach Emil Lontoc said.

After a tightly contested first frame that favored the Green Archers, the Tiger Spikers tightened their defense with Ramos, Alfafara, Romnick Rico, and Kerr Ucang -- who all imposed their towering frames to blank La Salle’s front line for an early 21-12 lead in the second set.

With the teams tied at 27-apiece way into the third set, Ramos nailed a running spike en route to Alfafara's power hit to push UST ahead with 2-1 set point advantage.

The Archers tried to stay alive in the last frame, banking on their blocks, 20-21, but UST recuperated with Ramos’s combination play and Depante’s off-the-block spikes sealing the game, 25-20.

La Salle’s Antonio had 21 points in a losing effort, while Kim de la Vega and Red Christensen chipped in 10 markers each. Chenny V. Ramos