Tigers win 4th straight volley crown in UST's 400th year

It was a title victory worth remembering for the University of Santo Tomas (UST) men's volleyball team, which bagged the UAAP crown in the school's 400th year. The Tigers did it in grand fashion, too, coming from behind in all three sets to topple Far Eastern University, 29-27, 26-24, 25-23, Saturday before a predominantly UST crowd at The Arena in San Juan City. It was also UST's 18th overall title as the Tigers denied FEU of extending the series to a deciding Game 3. Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) Jayson Ramos, the 2007 Rookie of the Year winner, and Salvador Pecante had 11 points each while Season MVP JP Torres and Henry James Pecana scored 10 markers apiece to carry the Tigers to their fourth straight title. But winning the championship didn't prove that easy, as the Tigers trailed in all sets but found a way to complete the Game 2 sweep. "Hanggang sa huli, hindi nawawala 'yung confidence at intensity nila," said UST coach Emil Lontoc. "Bagama't bumababa 'yung laro namin, andoon pa rin 'yung spirit ng pagiging champion." FEU led, 19-15, in the first set when UST racked up five straight points, capped by a Torres kill, to take the lead. They would exchange leads until the Tigers trailed, 27-26, but Harby Ilano and Depante connected on two straight points to move within set point. Ilano gave UST the set-clinching point when he blocked FEU's Nestor Molate's spike. The Tamaraws again held a 21-17 advantage in the second set, but again the Tigers rolled five straight markers to go ahead. With the game tied at 24, Torres and Depante scored to give UST a two-sets-to-none lead. FEU took a 21-18 lead late in the third set, but UST again tied the game when Tamaraw John Ian Depamaylo's spike sailed out. Pitrus Paolo De Ocampo and Depamaylo gave FEU a 23-21 advantage but the Tamaraws failed to score again. Ramos scored and Depamaylo's attack sailed wide for the championship point, before the Finals MVP finished the match with a service ace. Torres, Ilano, Pecana and Julius Sioson played in their final year, but Lontoc said that they are still aiming for another crown. "We will go for a fifth straight," said Lontoc, who added that the team will go abroad, probably to Australia, as a championship bonus. Molate tallied 11 points while Arvin Avila and Depamaylo had nine points each for the Tamaraws. – Reuben Terrado, JVP, KY, GMA News