THE race for the top leadership heats up as the defending champion University of Santo Tomas scored a sweep against last year's runner-up University of the Philippines (UP) in the UAAP men's volleyball at the Arena in San Juan Monday.
John Paul Torres sizzled with 15 points and 14 spikes while Jayson Ramos added 10 points and four blocks to defeat the Fighting Maroons twice in the ongoing eliminations.
The easy game for the Tigers took only 63 minutes as quarter scores showed a 25-22, 25-18, 25-11 thumping of the Diliman-based squad.
But UST star Ray Karl Dimaculangan meanwhile was held anew to his personal worst, a measly two-point output similar to their first round shocking defeat against Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws last December 16.
On the first UP-UST duel last January 13, The Tigers battled back from an opening set loss to post a 22-25, 25-21, 25-20, 25-22 triumph over the Fighting Maroons.
UST tied FEU on top of the ladder with a 7-1 win-loss record while UP are now in three-way contest for the third spot (4-4) alongside De La Salle Green Archers and University of the East Red Warriors.
In the other contest, the Green Archers opened its second round campaign by surviving Adamson University Falcons in the five-setter showdown that took 105 minutes to finish.
Team captain Chris Macasaet unleashed his veteran form by exploding double-double figures, 21 points, 17 spikes, and three blocks while Michael Christopher and John de la Vega combined for 29 points to seal their fourth win in eight outings.
Quarter scores are 25-25,25-23,19-25,27-29,15-13 for the Green Archers, who earlier upended the Falcons on their first round wrap up last January 12.
"It is a good booster especially that our women's team won eight straight games. We have improved as well," said the 21-year-old Season 70 best blocker.
Adamson dropped to 2-6 despite the combined 38-point output of Jeruz Nito and Diober Reyes.
UAAP volleyball returns on Wednesday at the Arena.
UAAP reverses UE softball win
In a related development, the UAAP board voided the 10-0 win of the University of the East over University of Santo Tomas in the women's softball tournament last January 13 after fielding an ineligible player.
Maricar Barrientos, who played shortstop in the said game, was discovered not approved during the eligibility screening, thus is ineligible to play for UE this season.
League rules states that fielding an ineligible player will mean forfeiture of the game thus UE will have to switch places with UST, which is now tied with defending champion Adamson at 2-0 while the Lady Warriors joined UP at second place (1-1).
Roberto Paguia, the tournament coordinator for baseball and softball from National University ordered the nullification of the results, saying he wanted to avert future cases such as this.
"It was an honest mistake. There was miscommunication on UE's part because the softball team is based at UE Kalookan while officials who attended the eligibility screening are from UE-Recto. That is why the player in question has her complete set of uniform," explained Paguia.
He added that new coach Joy Lasquete readily accepted the decision.
Standings of UAAP Season 72 Men's Volleyball Tournament:
Far Eastern University- 7-1
University of Santo Tomas-7-1
De La Salle University- 4-4
University of the East-4-4
University of the Philippines- 4-4
Ateneo de Manila University- 3-5
Adamson University- 2-6
National University- 1-7
(Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)