Adamson University pulled off a 27-29, 25-23, 25-20, 25-17 victory over a struggling University of the East squad to secure its breakthrough win in the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Volleyball Tournament on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The victory also snapped the Falcons’ eight-game skid and the first under new coach Raffy Mosuela.
After narrowly dropping the opening set, the Soaring Falcons rallied behind Jude Aguilar and Leo Coguimbal to notch their first win.
The team improved to a 1-2 record, tying them for sixth place with the De La Salle University Green Spikers and the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons.
Adamson last won a UAAP men’s volleyball match on March 23, 2024, when it defeated UE in four sets during the second round of Season 86.
“Masaya ako sa first win ko as head coach ng Adamson. Worth it yung aral namin doon sa ginawa namin sa kalaban,” Mosuela said.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Carrying their momentum from the third set, the Soaring Falcons stormed to a 19-10 lead in the fourth, highlighted by a backrow hit from Ricardo Obeda and an attack error by Axel Defeo.
The deficit proved insurmountable for UE. A quick attack from Jason Ballon, a backrow hit from Aguilar, and two consecutive attacks from Mark Paulino sealed Adamson’s first win of Season 87.
UE managed to trim a 20-16 gap to 20-18 in the third set, but timely hits from Aguilar and costly errors from the Red Warriors allowed the Soaring Falcons to seize a 2-1 set advantage.
Adamson then saw its 24-21 cushion shrink to 24-23, but a clutch crosscourt hit from Dan Gutierrez enabled the Soaring Falcons to level the match at one set apiece.
In the extended first set, tied at 27-all, a crucial service error by Adamson’s Jason Ballon and a block from Axel Defeo allowed UE to strike first.
“Nung first set namin, automatic na at kitang kita naman sa result na ang daming unforced errors. Ang tagal uminit nung bata kaya nung second set, na-realize nila na kaya naman tayo natalo is dahil sa errors natin. Hindi talaga nakapuntos yung kalaban,” Mosuela added.
Adamson will next face University of Santo Tomas on Saturday, March 1, at the same venue.
Powered by Coguimbal’s eight blocks, the Soaring Falcons dominated the blocks department with 18 blocks compared to the Red Warriors’ eight. They also took advantage of UE’s 38 errors while displaying a 53-42 performance in attacks.
Aguilar tallied 17 points on 14 attacks and three blocks with four excellent digs, while Coguimbal poured in 16 attacks with a game-high eight blocks, six attacks, and two aces.
Paulino contributed eight points on six attacks and two blocks with three excellent receptions, while Ahmed Tahiluddin chipped in five points along with 18 excellent receptions and four excellent digs.
Lourenz Domingo dished out 19 excellent sets, while libero Lorence Canlas contributed nine excellent digs and one point.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
The loss, on the other hand, kept the Red Warriors winless in Season 87 with a 0-3 card. They also absorbed their 10th consecutive defeat dating back to the second round of Season 86.
Steve Aligayon paced UE in the losing effort with 23 points on 20 attacks, two blocks, and one ace with six excellent digs. Meanwhile, Roy Piojo tallied 17 points built on 16 attacks along with four excellent digs and three excellent receptions.
UE will remain on the hunt for a breakthrough victory in a clash against defending champion National University on the same date and at the same venue.
