Far Eastern University–Diliman and University of Santo Tomas extended their winning streaks to five games, taking care of Adamson University and De La Salle Santiago Zobel School in similar straight-set victories in the UAAP Season 89 High School Boys’ Volleyball Tournament on Sunday at the Ateneo Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City.
Getting back at the very same team that denied them the twice-to-beat advantage last season was the main mission the Baby Tamaraws accomplished in their 25–14, 25–23, 25–16 victory over the Baby Falcons.
“We prepared talaga para dito sa match na ‘to kasi if you recall last year, sila ‘yung nagpa-out sa ‘min for the twice-to-beat eh. I told the boys na baka this is the time na huwag naman tayong magbigay. Kasi, it’s a must na kailangan naming mag-ipon ng panalo,” said second-year head coach Rene Dulay.
Fortunately, Kenneth Maliwanag and the rest of the Baby Tamaraws knew exactly what was at stake and delivered on Dulay’s request.
After escaping a tight second set, FEU Diliman carried its momentum into the third and quickly built a double-digit lead.
Karch Carolino saw his attackers deliver, with Jude Abes and Ken Vicente drilling kills to help establish 18–7 and 19–8 leads. Maliwanag then put the game out of reach with a monster block that gave the Baby Tamaraws a 20–8 cushion.
James Bernabe and the rest of the Baby Falcons made the third set more respectable, with the outside hitter recording his 10th kill, but the deficit proved too much to overcome. Two straight points from Neox Fallorina off the bench—one on an attack and another from the service line—eventually sealed FEU Diliman’s fifth straight win.
“Two matches to go, and we’ll do our best na kunin rin sa UST. Pero anybody’s ball game ‘to. Ang mind setting namin right now is to get more wins,” Dulay added.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Meanwhile, UST took the lessons from its previous game against Adamson to heart, taking down DLSZ in straight sets, 25–11, 25–11, 25–17, to keep pace with FEU Diliman at the top of the standings.
“Iba rin talaga nung nakalaban namin ‘yung Adamson. Ang ganda ng ginalaw ni Adamson. Kudos sa kanila doon. Pero siyempre, naging lesson sa mga players namin na hindi puwedeng basta-basta lang. At least nakita ng mga players na hindi dapat ganoon ang mangyari, hindi pala dapat easy-easy lang ang laro; dapat stay focused pa rin,” said long-time mentor Aying Esteban.
Maliwanag paced the FEU Diliman offense with 15 points, scoring seven attacks, six blocks, and two service aces. Ahmad Korooshavi chipped in nine markers, while Abes added eight.
Sam Coronel made it easier for Carolino to orchestrate the offense with 19 excellent receptions at a 62 percent clip. Carolino, in turn, delivered 17 excellent sets, which the Baby Tamaraws converted into 29 kills.
The Baby Falcons slipped to 2–3 despite Bernabe’s 13-point performance and the 11 markers from captain Lance Babon.
For the undefeated Junior Golden Spikers, it was a balanced effort led by UAAP Season 88 Beach Volleyball MVP Karl Escobal, who finished with nine points on an efficient 62 percent attacking clip and added one ace.
All three UST setters took turns orchestrating the attack, with Chester Esteban producing six excellent sets in the first frame, Jeff Abalos tossing five in the second, and Miguel Panganiban adding seven in the third. The Junior Golden Spikers converted 43 percent of their spike attempts into points.
DLSZ remained tied for sixth place at 1–4, with Brett Urriquia and Kooper Arguelles finishing with six points apiece.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
On the other hand, University of the East and National University Nazareth School secured their second consecutive victories at the expense of University of the Philippines Integrated School and Ateneo de Manila University, respectively.
The defending champions, now 3–2, took down the Fighting Maroons, 25–19, 25–17, 25–13. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs, also at 3–2, dominated the Blue Eagles, 25–7, 25–18, 25–3.
Prince Padrones carried the cudgels for the defending champions, drilling eight kills and adding three blocks. Captain Mharl Dullete steadied the offense with 20 excellent sets and contributed six points.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Kiel Biscocho paced the NUNS attack with seven points on 13 attempts, while captain Ronnie Millan led the charge at the net with three of the squad’s 11 blocks, along with two digs.
Prince Jimenez continued to prove his effectiveness despite his transition to middle blocker, once again leading the way for the now 1–4 UPIS.
Ateneo, meanwhile, continues to search for answers—and its first win—after five matches.
