Popoy Colinares powered University of Santo Tomas past De La Salle University, 25-21, 25-20, 25-16, to secure its second consecutive win in the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Volleyball Tournament on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
Still missing the services of two-time MVP Josh Ybañez due to a Grade 2 ankle sprain, Colinares tallied 17 points on 11-of-15 attacks, five blocks, one ace, and one dig as UST nailed its first win over La Salle since a four-set triumph in the second round of Season 85 last April 2, 2023.
Also delivering for UST were JJ Macam and Jayrack Dela Noche as UST improved to a 2-1 record, joining National University and Ateneo de Manila University in second place.
Meantime, Adamson pulled off a 27-29, 25-23, 25-20, 25-17 victory over a struggling University of the East squad to secure its breakthrough win.
The victory also snapped the Falcons’ eight-game skid and the first under new coach Raffy Mosuela.
After narrowly dropping the opening set, the Soaring Falcons rallied behind Jude Aguilar and Leo Coguimbal to notch their first win, improving to a 1-2 record, tying them for sixth place with the De La Salle University Green Spikers and the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons.
“The result speaks for itself when it comes to our depth. Bukod doon, yung preparation din namin, so kahapon, maganda yung mood nila. Hanggang ngayon, naiextend nila yung good vibes sa court at magaan sila maglaro,” UST head coach Odjie Mamon said.
In the third set, back-to-back off-the-block attacks from Dela Noche and Season 86 beach volleyball MVP Alche Gupiteo gave the Golden Spikers an early 16-11 lead.
UST then widened the gap with attacks from Vince Sali, a block from Colinares, a crosscourt hit from Dela Noche, and an ace from Macam, pushing their lead to 23-15 to all but secure the one hour and 11-minute sweep.
In the second set, Colinares and Macam turned an early 8-10 deficit into a commanding 17-12 advantage, capped by an off-the-block hit from Gupiteo and a quick attack from Colinares to put UST up two sets to none.
