UST Dominates Arellano in Straight Sets to Secure Second Place in V-League

University of Santo Tomas (UST) delivered a dominant performance against NCAA champion Arellano University, sweeping the match 25-18, 25-18, 25-15 at the Paco Arena Sports and Events Center on Wednesday night. This victory marks a strong recovery for UST following a tough five-set defeat to National University just days earlier.

Jan Julian Macam spearheaded the Golden Spikers' offense, scoring 14 points exclusively through attacks while also providing solid defense with five receptions and four digs. Complementing Macam's efforts, Gboy de Vega contributed 12 points, Trevor Valera added nine, and both John Vryvin Catinsag and Sherwin Jan Umandal chipped in six points each, showcasing UST's well-rounded gameplay.

Assistant coach Benjamin Mape emphasized the team's mental resilience, stating, "Our main focus was strengthening the players' mental toughness after the NU loss. We also worked on refining their skills, which was evident in our performance tonight. However, we are preparing even harder for our upcoming game against FEU this Saturday."

UST currently holds a 4-1 record, placing second in the standings behind De La Salle, who remain undefeated at 5-0. Their next match will be against Far Eastern University (FEU), which stands at 3-1, on September 6.

On the opposing side, Arellano University struggled to maintain momentum despite a spirited effort from captain Jiwen Sinuto, who scored 10 points. Arman Clarence Guinto also made a notable contribution with five points and an impressive 15 receptions. The Chiefs briefly closed the gap to 15-13 in the second set but ultimately failed to sustain the comeback, falling to a 1-3 record. Arellano will face Ateneo on September 7.

In other league action, Colegio de San Juan de Letran edged out College of Saint Benilde in four sets, 23-25, 25-15, 25-19, 25-23, bringing both teams to a 2-3 standing.

Dave Lardizabal led the Knights with 21 points, supported by Bembem Bautista's 18. For the Blazers, reigning NCAA MVP Rocky Motol posted 18 points and 17 receptions, while Reymark Betco added 12. The Blazers will meet FEU on September 7, and Letran will face the Tamaraws on September 10.