For 703 long days, the losses kept piling up, and the questions surrounding the University of the East men’s volleyball program grew louder.
A grueling skid of 23 straight defeats, spanning from Season 86 to a winless Season 87, painted a bleak picture for the Red Warriors. It tested the program’s belief, patience, and pride in the fiercely competitive UAAP men’s volleyball landscape.
But on Saturday, February 21, inside the SM Mall of Asia Arena, the Red Warriors finally turned the page.
With steady leadership from mainstay Raquim Aceron, the breakout performance of rookie CJ Nabora, and the relentless spirit of seven fearless freshmen, UE broke through in the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Volleyball Tournament.
The Red Warriors outlasted the Adamson Soaring Falcons in a thrilling five-set battle, 25-22, 20-25, 25-23, 30-32, 15-12 — snapping a 23-game losing streak that had haunted them since March 17, 2024, when they last bested the University of the Philippines in a five-set win during Season 86.
For assistant coach Jumbo Dimaculangan, who also leads UE’s women’s team, the victory was less about the scoreboard and more about the resilience forged through countless setbacks.
Seven consecutive losses to close Season 86. 14 defeats in Season 87. Then two more to start Season 88.
“I would say we have a very young team until now. We have eight rookies, and the rookies that we have, they are not the prized recruits. Pero mas naniniwala kaming coaches na once we see a potential sa player, we try to develop them,” Dimaculangan said.
“We’re one of the youngest dito sa UAAP, but at least nailalabas namin kung ano yung meron sila. Yun yung coaching namin.”
Leading the charge was Nabora, who began the season as a libero before being converted into a wing spiker to support Aceron, Xjhann Camaymayan, and Mark Lee Budias.
The Don Pablo Lorenzo Memorial High School product from Zamboanga City stressed that the work doesn’t stop here — a single win isn’t enough if UE wants to build a lasting winning tradition.
“For me, mahalaga na maipakita ko kung anong kaya ko kasi this was my dream. Binigyan kami ng chance ng coaches namin, so to pay back, we need to perform,” Nabora said, finishing with 17 points on 15 attacks, alongside 13 excellent receptions and seven excellent digs against Adamson.
“Mahirap siya pero kailangan pagtrabahuhan kasi given na ‘yung UE, winless last season. Kailangan naming baguhin ‘yung tingin ng tao sa amin kaya pinagtatrabahuhan talaga namin.”
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
For Aceron, who poured in 24 points, 21 excellent receptions, and two excellent digs, the triumph carried more than just a stat line. It also symbolized the culmination of the sacrifices and relentless effort the Red Warriors invested to end a 703-day drought.
“Sobrang importante po nitong panalo na ito sa akin, kasi ito po yung bunga ng pinagtatrabahuhan namin and pinagtitiyagaan namin since last year. Hindi naging madali yung daan para makuha yung isang panalo, pero patuloy lang kaming naniwala sa isa’t isa,” Aceron said.
The second-year spiker also ranks third Best Scorer with 59 points, tenth Best Spiker with a 38.19% success rate, and eighth Best Server with 0.23 per set, while also placing eighth in both digging and receiving.
Dimaculangan emphasized that the win is just a step forward for a team learning to rise above the program’s limitations without the luxury of ace recruits.
“Kailangan lang magkaroon ng enough experience, and at the same time, maging mas composed pa,” Dimaculangan said.
“Everyday struggle kasi hindi kasi kami nakakakuha ng mga ace players kumbaga, but kailangan namin trabahuhin kung ano ‘yung meron kami. And we’re happy with this result kasi after two seasons, may resulta and that’s more than enough for us para ipagpatuloy.”
