Olayemi Raheem was a dominant presence for the University of the Philippines in the UAAP Season 87 men’s volleyball tournament, but despite his impressive performance, the Fighting Maroons ended their campaign with a 4-10 record, finishing in sixth place.
Raheem, a 19-year-old rookie from Nigeria, came to the realization that excelling in the Philippines’ premier collegiate league requires more than just raw talent.
“For me, it’s a good experience playing in a different environment and type of culture. Playing in the UAAP showed me that talent is not enough. You have to learn the hard work,” Raheem said.
The 6-foot-3 opposite spiker ranked third in scoring after the elimination round, amassing a total of 249 points, while also placing among the top 10 in spiking efficiency.
Raheem capped off his season with a spectacular performance in UP’s final game, scoring 21 points — 15 from attacks, five from blocks, and one from an ace — leading the Fighting Maroons to a thrilling 21-25, 19-25, 25-11, 25-12, 15-12 reverse sweep over Adamson University on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Now fully adjusted to the style of play in the Philippines, Raheem is already looking ahead to next season.
“For next season, okay, we move,” Raheem said.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Mediaa Team
Despite their 4-10 record, UP showed notable improvement compared to Season 86, where they only managed two wins in 14 games.
In light of this progress, graduating middle blocker Dan Nicolas encouraged the team to continue believing in themselves, assuring them that their efforts will pay off in time.
“Wag lang ma-satisfy kung anong meron sila ngayon kasi laging ishoshow ng UAAP kung hanggang saan ka lang. Patuloy lang na be teachable kasi kailangan talaga ng guidance lalo rookie karamihan,” said Nicolas, the lone graduating player for UP this season.
“Huwag mawalan ng hope for the team. Just trust your team kasi kayo talaga maghahatakan pataas saka kailangan talaga yung courage ng bawat isa every training, every game para walang naiiwan, sabay-sabay aangat.”
#WATCH: Carlo Cabatingan shares that UP’s strong finish in #UAAPSeason87 is only the beginning of their grind for #UAAPSeason88 🏐
📹 Justin Valencia/Tiebreaker Times pic.twitter.com/AXb0nIKoTO
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) April 27, 2025
