Top-seeded National University–Nazareth School and the University of the East advanced to the UAAP Season 88 High School Boys’ Volleyball Finals following contrasting victories over the University of Santo Tomas and Far Eastern University–Diliman on Monday at the Ateneo Blue Eagle Gym in Loyola Heights, Quezon City.
The Bullpups had suffered their second loss of the season to last year’s Finals rivals, the Junior Golden Spikers, via a sweep last Saturday.
But they bounced back in a do-or-die match, defeating UST in four sets, 25–22, 25–19, 23–25, 26–24, to secure their sixth-straight Finals appearance.
The Junior Red Warriors, coming off their first defeat against the Baby Tamaraws — also last Saturday in a five-set thriller — needed the full five sets to prevail, 21–25, 25–22, 23–25, 25–19, 15–9, setting up a rematch of the Season 86 championship.
Back in 2024, NUNS, then led by Jeffe Gallego and Miguel Egger, defeated UE in three games to claim the title.
Game 1 of the best-of-three Finals is scheduled for Thursday, December 11, at 2:00 PM, at the same Katipunan venue.
Newcomer Kiel Biscocho shrugged off first-timer nerves to lead the Bullpups against Rainier Lorayes and the defending champions. He combined with leading opposite hitter Xandrex Ragusta to put NUNS ahead, 20–19, in the fourth set.
After a Christian Maghanoy point extended NUNS’s lead to 21–19, graduating middle blocker Zach Maude and Karl Escobal pulled UST back at 23-all. Biscocho and Ragusta, however, responded to the UST defense and set the match-point advantage.
Maude’s attack then narrowly went wide, giving the Bullpups the win after two hours and five minutes.
“Actually, may inadjust kami para sa UST, pero instead na maging effective, nakasama pa. So, bumalik lang kami do’n sa ginagawa namin dati, naging mas madali para sa kanila and mas naging comfortable sila, kaya nakuha namin ‘yung panalo,” said long-time NUNS head coach Edgar Barroga.
Ragusta finished with 20 points, while Biscocho added 17; the duo accounted for 37 of the Bullpups’ 56 spikes. Elmerson Lejano contributed 14 points, including four kill blocks.
Libero Geoff Deniega was instrumental in the win, recording a massive double-double of 11 digs and 33 excellent receptions, enabling setter and captain Brylle Crespo to deliver 34 excellent sets in NUNS’s well-oiled offense.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Rainier Lorayes starred for UST in his swan song with a game-high 23 points and 12 digs. Meanwhile, fellow senior Andrei Amaneo closed his high school career with 18 digs and 20 excellent receptions.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
For the Junior Red Warriors, Khian Hiyao proved decisive, particularly in the fifth-set finishing run when Tyler Ramos and the Baby Tamaraws were mounting a comeback.
The 17-year-old rookie showed no signs of nerves, scoring two crucial points in the decider. Hiyao sent UE into double figures at 10–8 before helping fuel the final push with a solid block on Kenneth Maliwanag.
With both net and floor defense in their favor, the Baby Tamaraws failed to score in the closing stages, missing three straight attempts and handing the fifth frame — and the match — to the No. 2 seeds.
“Nakatulong siguro talaga ‘yung determination namin na makapasok sa Finals. ‘Yung focus talaga namin is do’n sa goal na ‘yon, ‘yon lang,” said second-year mentor Herbert Dizon, making his first-ever Finals appearance.
Hiyao started in place of captain and Season 87 Best Middle Blocker Clarence Gianan, who played as the starting opposite spiker, finishing with seven points. Fellow middle attacker Miguel Catanghal contributed 11 markers.
Emman Marcelino bounced back from a quiet Game 1 with a triple-double of 15 points, 12 digs, and 23 excellent receptions. Paul Roque topped all UE scorers with 18 points on 16 spikes and two blocks.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Maliwanag exploded for 28 points on 23 attacks, adding four blocks and a service ace for the Baby Tamaraws, while Ramos finished with 16 markers.
Brix Landicho delivered 27 excellent sets in his final UAAP high school game for the bronze-medalist FEU-D.
