By: Justine Anne Gaerlan
Far Eastern University-Diliman seized solo second place in the UAAP Season 88 High School Boys’ Volleyball Tournament after overcoming University of the East, 25-18, 25-17, 19-25, 25-19, on Sunday at the Paco Arena in Manila.
Shaking off a third-set stumble, the Baby Tamaraws matched the Junior Warriors in the fourth set, fueled by steady offensive contributions from Axel Terreng and Kenneth Maliwanag.
Momentum swung decisively in FEU-D’s favor midway through the set, as four consecutive attack errors from UE opened their largest lead at 21-13. The Junior Warriors could not recover, surrendering match point on another miscue before Edrielle Manlapaz closed out the set, 25-19.
“We had a rough game last game, and I think nag-comeback ‘yung team for this match kasi kailangan namin tumaas ‘yung ranking namin and we want more wins. Nag-prepare kami maigi at medyo lumaban naman sila but ang [focus] lang namin is that we have to prepare for this match. And [we’re] hoping for the rest of the games we’ll still remain winners,” said Baby Tamaraws head coach Rene Dulay.
Maliwanag led FEU-D with 22 points on 20 attacks and two aces, followed by Tyler Ramos with 16 points on 14 attacks and two aces in the hour-and-25-minute match. Manlapaz added 12 points, while Brix Landicho delivered 19 excellent sets to guide FEU-D’s offense.
Paul Roque paced UE with 14 points from 13 attacks and an ace, as the Junior Warriors slipped to third place with a 4-2 record.
National University-Nazareth School extended its perfect start to six matches after breezing past University of the Philippines Integrated School, 25-12, 25-15, 25-12.
Defending champion University of Santo Tomas maintained its winning form, sweeping Ateneo de Manila University, 25-18, 25-14, 25-10, for its fourth straight victory.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Xandrex Ragusta led NUNS with 12 markers on seven kills, three blocks, and two aces in just two sets. Ronnie Milan and Kiel Biscocho added nine and seven points, respectively, in the 58-minute sweep.
As the Bullpups prepare for their first meeting with the Junior Golden Spikers—the team that dethroned them in last season’s finals—head coach Edgar Barroga acknowledged the challenge ahead.
“Syempre, sabihin nating kahit dalawa na ‘yung talo nila, pero sila pa rin ‘yung defending champion, so definitely pinaghahandaan namin ‘yung tao nila not only as a team pero individually kasi nakita naman natin na mga open spiker nila, consistent ‘yan,” he said.
The Bullpups maintained their grip on first place, while the Junior Fighting Maroons continued to search for their first win after six games.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
The Junior Golden Spikers leaned on Rainier Lorayes, who delivered 11 points from 10 attacks and a block, while Jireh Torotoro and Karl Escobal contributed six each, the former achieving his tally in a single set. UST utilized its full roster in the 58-minute contest.
UST improved to 4-2 to join UE in a share of third place, as it gears up for Wednesday’s final rematch against NUNS. Ateneo, meanwhile, remained winless after six outings.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Adamson University stayed in fifth place after dispatching De La Salle Zobel, 25-17, 27-25, 25-11, for its second consecutive win.
Kirk Partosa set the tone with 13 points on nine attacks and three blocks, with Brice Malinao and James Bernabe adding 10 points each—Malinao scoring nine of those off attacks.
Juris Guevarra anchored the defense with 16 excellent digs and nine receptions, while Clark Dingle orchestrated the offense with 14 excellent sets in the 62-minute match.
Andrei Montillano led De La Salle Zobel with 10 points on six attacks and four blocks in the loss, dropping the Junior Green Spikers to sixth place at 2-4.
