Quezon City: Four-time champion National University defeated University of Santo Tomas, 25-22, 20-25, 25-22, 25-22, Sunday in the UAAP Season 87 men’s volleyball tournament at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

According to Philippines News Agency, Jade Alex Disquitado scored 23 points as the Bulldogs rolled to their sixth consecutive win and wrapped up the preliminaries with a 12-2 record for second place. The Golden Spikers fell into a tie for third with De La Salle University at 9-5. Top seed Far Eastern University and NU will hold the twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four against De La Salle and UST, respectively.

NU, missing key hitter Michaelo Buddin due to a right ankle sprain, registered its fourth straight win over UST following a sweep of the Season 86 Finals and a 16-25, 25-20, 25-21, 29-27 victory in the first round on March 16. “Yesterday, we found out that the game would have no bearing, but I told my players that no matter what happens, we should still set our mindset to win because the victory we get here, we can carry into the Final Four. They responded well, although there were some set plays or plays that changed today, but at least we were still able to adjust to what UST did,” NU coach Dante Alinsunurin said.

Led by two-time Most Valuable Player Josh Yba±ez, the Golden Spikers moved to within 20-19 and 23-21 in the fourth set, but skipper Leo Aringo scored back-to-back spikes to seal NU’s win in one hour and 57 minutes. Leo Ordiales chipped in 15 points on 12 attacks and three blocks, Peng Taguibolos scored 10 points, and Aringo had eight points, 12 receptions, and 11 digs.

Yba±ez led UST with 20 points, 24 receptions, and six digs, followed by rookie JJ Macam and Jay Rack De la Noche with 11 points each. In the other match, rookie Tommy Castrodes scored 16 points in leading the University of the Philippines to a 21-25, 19-25, 25-11, 25-12, 15-12 win over Adamson University.

Nigerian wing spiker Olayemi Raheem contributed 19 points on 13 attacks with seven digs, while Angelo Lipata added 11 points with 13 receptions and five digs as the Fighting Maroons finished with four wins and 10 losses, improving their 2-12 record last season. Meanwhile, Jude Christian Aguilar had 15 points and six digs, while Dan Gutierrez added 13 points and 17 receptions for Adamson, which duplicated its Season 85 performance with two wins against 12 losses. Marc Paulino scored 13 points, while Leo Coguimbal chipped in 13 and 11 points, respectively.