La Salle, UST spikers win

La Salle and University of Santo Tomas hurdled their final assignments in the UAAP men’s volleyball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.

The Green Spikers avoided a meltdown and survived the University of the Philippines Maroons, 25-21, 25-21, 15-25, 23-25, 15-11, while the Tigers downed the University of the East Warriors, 25-19, 2515, 19-25, 25-23.

La Salle finished the season with a 5-9 win-loss record to match last year’s performance at sixth place while UST, which failed to enter a second straight Final Four appearance, also settled for a 5-9 card.

The Green Spikers bucked erratic plays and stepped up in the crunch, with Chris Dumago and Billie Anima pacing with 23 and 22 points. Anima built his performance on 17 kills, three blocks and three aces.

Kieffer Reyes also shone for the Taftbased squad with 18 points while Wayna Marco contributed with 32 excellent sets and 10 digs along with six points.

UST, which lost control of the third frame, rose to the occasion behind Manuel Medina and Jaron Requinton, who fired 14 and 13 points, respectively.

The duo also combined for 22 of the team’s 46 kills.

Jayvee Sumagaysay and Hernel Corda capped of the season with 12 points each while Joshua Umandal added 10 points.

It was a forgettable season for UP, which finished a far cry from its 4-10 card last year to 1-13 at the bottom standings.

UE, for its part, consoled itself of improving last year’s winless season of 14 games by managing two wins against 12 defeats this season.