By ADRIAN STEWART CO

The University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Spikers moved closer to securing a Final Four seat in the UAAP Season 87 men’s volleyball tournament with a 25-20, 25-17, 25-20 sweep over the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Saturday, April 12.

Negrense JayRack de la Noche finished with 10 points, on eight attacks, one block and a service ace, to go with six excellent digs as the Golden Spikers moved up to solo third place with an 8-4 win-loss record.

Josh Ybañez paced UST with 15 points, all coming from attacks, to go with nine excellent receptions and six excellent digs.

Popoy Colinares contributed 12 markers for the Golden Spikers.

UST head coach Odjie Mamon expressed happiness with his team’s winning streak, but is cautious that they might get out of their physical conditioning with the upcoming Lenten break.

“When it comes to their physical conditioning, pa-peak na. When it comes to the mastery of the system, we’re almost there also. Hopefully, maganda ‘yung timing ng pag-peak talaga namin,” Mamon said after the game.

“With the coming Holy Week, medyo masisira. Ma-disrupt ‘yung flow. Kaya dapat tuloy tuloy lang kami on forming the team talaga,” the long-time Golden Spikers mentor added.

Roy Gabriel Piojo finished with nine points to lead the Red Warriors, which dropped to a 0-13 win-loss slate.

Meanwhile, the Far Eastern University Tamaraws moved on the verge of securing the top seed with a swift 25-16, 25-16, 25-22 victory over also-ran Adamson University Falcons.

With their third consecutive victory, the Tamaraws not only solidified their hold on the top seed with a 12-1 record, but are also one win away from achieving their best preliminaries finish in 14 years since ending Season 73 with a 13-1 slate last 2011. /ASC, WDJ