UST-Gameville stuns Cignal, keeps semifinal hopes alive in Spikers’ Turf Invitational

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UST-Gameville delivered one of the tournament’s most surprising results on Wednesday (November 12) night at Paco Arena, toppling defending champion Cignal, 25-23, 22-25, 28-26, 25-20, to solidify its spot among the league’s top contenders.

Originally fielded as a replacement team for La Salle, the Golden Spikers displayed relentless determination despite committing 38 unforced errors, proving their ability to thrive under pressure against the multi-titled Super Spikers.

After struggling with early miscues that handed free points to Cignal, UST-Gameville used a nail-biting third set as a springboard, taking control in the fourth and completing one of the season’s biggest upsets.

Josh Ybañez delivers a crucial kill in UST-Gameville’s four-set victory. [Spikers' Turf photo] — Josh Ybañez delivers a crucial kill in UST-Gameville’s four-set victory. [Spikers’ Turf photo]

Ybañez leads with MVP-caliber performance

UAAP MVP Josh Ybañez spearheaded the Golden Spikers’ campaign, finishing with 24 points, including 19 attacks, three kill blocks, and two aces. He also anchored the defense with 17 excellent receptions and 11 digs.

Support came from JJ Macam, who tallied 18 points, and Al-Bukharie Sali with 12, while Dux Yambao managed the offense with 20 excellent sets and eight points. Edriel Alabar shone defensively with 19 receptions and 11 digs, ensuring UST maintained composure in critical stretches.

Coach Odjie Mamon emphasized the need to reduce errors and maintain focus despite the victory. “We’re happy, but there’s still a lot of consistency training to do. The players understand what’s at stake – a win moves us closer to the semifinals, a loss brings consequences,” Mamon said.

Golden Spikers eye Criss Cross next

The victory marked UST-Gameville’s third straight win after falling to Savouge Aesthetics in a four-set match on October 31. The team now faces undefeated Criss Cross on Friday at 1 p.m., with another win potentially securing a Final Four berth.

Cignal, meanwhile, dropped to 4-2 after also losing to Criss Cross on November 2, tying Savouge for third place. Louie Ramirez and team captain JP Bugaoan each led the Super Spikers with 13 points, while Jau Umandal added 11. Cignal looks to rebound against Spin Doctors in Friday’s 6:30 p.m. contest.