The University of Santo Tomas Golden Spikers fell short of upsetting the National University Bulldogs, 23-25, 23-25, 23-25, in the second game of their UAAP Season 87 men's volleyball tournament semifinal matchup on Wednesday May 7, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Josh Ybañez led UST with 14 points from 13 attacks and a block, followed by GBoy De Vega who tallied 12 markers.

Trevor Valera and graduating Jay Rack De La Noche combined for 17 points in the losing effort.

The Bulldogs caught fire early in the opening salvo, building a 5-point lead courtesy of a one-two play from Leo Aringo, 14-9.

UST pounced back as Ybañez punished an over-receive from the NU side to tie the game at the 23-all mark.

Leo Ordiales then responded with a down-the-line kill, followed by a stuff block from Obed Mukaba on Ybañez that sealed the first set in favor of the Bulldogs, 25-23.

The España-based squad opened the second set with a 10-7 run courtesy of a transition kill by De Vega.

The Golden Spikers continued to hold the lead until the Jhocson-based squad went on an 8-4 run to tie the game at 20 points each.

A net touch committed by Choi Diao followed by a block from Al-Bukharie Sali on Disquitado gave UST a two-point lead late in the set, 22-20.

The Bulldogs took the lead courtesy of a block from Peng Taguibolos against Ybañez, 23-24, while an error from De Vega put the Bulldogs on the brink of a third-straight finals appearance, 23-25.

The Jhocson-based squad once again built an early three-point lead in the third frame courtesy of an off-the-block kill from Ordiales, 9-12.

The Golden Spikers countered with three straight points off an attack from Ybañez, a block point from Dux Yambao on Buds Buddin, and a service ace from GBoy De Vega to put them up by one point, 13-12.

The game saw both teams exchange points in a tight showdown until two consecutive kills from Disquitado and Ordiales gave NU a three-point cushion late in the set, 16-19.

The Golden Spikers tried to switch their offense up as rookie Sali tied the game at 21-21 but NU's firepower proved too hard to contain for UST as an attack from Buddin and Disquitado ultimately ended the España-based squad’s tournament run, 23-25.

“‘Yung game plan namin talagang hindi na-execute kasi dapat puro combination [plays] pero naglaro pa rin kami sa wing [spikers],” said UST head coach Odjie Mamon.

“[I'm] not disappointed sa performance [ng team] or dun sa result namin considering ‘yung main gunner namin missed four or five matches,” he added.

Ordiales held the reign for the Bulldogs with 20 points, followed by Jade Disquitado with 14 points.

This marks UST’s lowest placement since Season 81, when they failed to reach the final four and finished fifth.