By ADRIAN STEWART CO
The University of Santo Tomas (UST) Junior Golden Spikers edged the National University Nazareth School (NUNS) Bullpups, 18-25, 25-21, 28-26, 25-19, in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 87 boys volleyball finals at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion in Manila.
Negrense John Paul Bautista fired on all cylinders with 17 points, including 16-of-41 kills, a block and 15 excellent receptions as the Junior Golden Spikers took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three title series.
Paolo Medino contributed 16 points, 15 of which came from attacks, Jefferson Abalos masterfully steered Junior Golden Spikers’ offense with 17 excellent sets, and Kalel Legaspi anchored the defense with 15 digs.
The Junior Golden Spikers previously won their first and only UAAP high school boys’ volleyball championship in Season 80 in 2018, with a victory over Far Eastern University-Diliman in the finals.
The Clarence Esteban-mentored UST crew will have the chance to secure their second overall title in Game 2 of the best-of-three series at the same venue on Saturday, December 7, at 9:00 a.m.
“Nung first set kasi nawala ‘yung receive namin. Then ‘yung setter, medyo binabagal niya. Hindi ‘yun ‘yung usual naming ginagawa. So siguro masyado silang naha-hype doon,” Esteban said.
“So minotivate ko lang sila na hindi ganyan ‘yung ginagawa natin sa training. Hindi ‘yan ‘yung ginawa natin na dapat mangyari,” he said.
“Noong second set, nagising sila na nung bumilis ‘yung set namin, gumanda ‘yung receive,” he added.
Yuan Mendoza led the defending champion Bullpups with a game-high 18 points, including 15 from attacks, Matthew Abut and Miguel Egger provided steady support with 15 points each.
On the other hand, the NUNS Lady Bullpups cruised to a dominant 25-16, 25-21, 25-13 victory over the Adamson University Lady Baby Falcons in Game 1 of the girls volleyball finals.
Denesse Daylisan led the charge with 14 points, with 13 coming from attacks, Diza Berayo added 11 points, 10 of which came from attacks, while Rain Navarro orchestrated the offense with 13 excellent sets and contributed five points for NUNS./ASC, WDJ