The UST-Gameville Golden Spikers, fielded as a replacement squad in the Spikers' Turf, stunned defending champions Cignal Super Spikers in four sets. Josh Ybañez reigned over the court with 24 points, 10 excellent digs and 17 excellent receptions.
UST-Gameville continued to defy the odds and shake up the Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference leaderboard, stunning defending champion Cignal, 25-23, 22-25, 28-26, 25-20, to move within striking distance of a semifinal berth at the Paco Arena on Wednesday night.
The Golden Spikers, a team initially fielded as a replacement squad for La Salle, showcased tremendous fighting spirit and mental toughness in a match that saw them commit 38 unforced errors – yet still come out on top against the multi-titled Super Spikers.
Despite a shaky start and a string of miscues that handed Cignal multiple free points, UST-Gameville refused to fold. The Golden Spikers used a gritty third-set escape as a launching pad to dominate the fourth, completing one of the biggest reversals of the season-ending tournament organized by Sports Vision.
The victory hiked UST-Gameville’s record to 4-1 for solo second behind unbeaten Criss Cross (4-0), and placed the Golden Spikers within arm’s reach of a coveted Final Four slot – a remarkable feat for a squad that entered the tournament under the radar.
Reigning UAAP MVP Josh Ybañez once again led from the front, delivering an MVP-worthy performance with 24 points built on 19 attacks, three kill blocks, and two aces. He also contributed impressively on defense with 17 excellent receptions and 10 digs, anchoring UST’s all-around effort.
Teammates JJ Macam and Al-Bukharie Sali provided steady support with 18 and 12 points, respectively, while Dux Yambao orchestrated the offense with 20 excellent sets and added eight points of his own.
@onesportsphl HEAR ‘EM ROAR 🐯 The UST-Gameville Golden Spikers stun defending champions Cignal Super Spikers in four sets, riding unstoppable momentum in their preliminary round showdown at the 2025 Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference! | via Bettina Dabu/One Sports #SpikersTurf #OSOnTheSpot
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Edriel Alabar also shone on the defensive end, tallying 19 receptions and 11 digs.
The Golden Spikers’ composure shone through in crucial moments, especially in the extended third set where they outlasted the Super Spikers to swing momentum decisively in their favor.
Despite the win, head coach Odjie Mamon was quick to emphasize the need for consistency and discipline as the Golden Spikers continue their semis chase.
“Happy, but we still need to do a lot of consistency training because there are lots of errors. In the first three sets alone, I think we had 31 errors,” said Mamon. “They know what’s at stake – if we win, we advance; if we lose, we face the consequences. Our goal is to reach the semifinals, so we need more wins.”
The Golden Spikers’ victory marked their third straight win following a four-set loss to Savouge last Oct. 31 in the conference – a testament to their growth, chemistry and fighting heart.
UST-Gameville now turns its focus to league-leading Criss Cross on Friday at 1 p.m. at the same venue, where another win could formally seal their semis berth.
Meanwhile, Cignal, which also fell to Criss Cross last Nov. 2, slipped to 4-2, tying Savouge Aesthetics for third.
Louie Ramirez and team captain JP Bugaoan led the Super Spikers with 13 points apiece, while Jau Umandal added 11 markers for the Super Spikers, who will try to bounce back against Spin Doctors in the 6:30 p.m. nightcap on Friday.
Games are aired live on One Sports and One Sports+, with video-on-demand access available via the Pilipinas Live app. Matches are also streamed on spikersturf.ph.
(With reports from Jamie Velasco/One Sports)