By: Nicole Gonzales
Rainier Lorayes went down swinging in his final high school outing, delivering a standout performance for the defending champion University of Santo Tomas Junior Golden Spikers in the Final Four of the UAAP Season 88 High School Boys’ Volleyball Tournament.
The España-based squad fell to eventual second placers National University-Nazareth School Bullpups in a hard-fought four-set battle, 22-25, 19-25, 25-23, 24-26, at the Ateneo Blue Eagle Gym last December 8.
Throughout his UST career, the 18-year-old outside spiker had established himself as the team’s leading scorer. He was named Season MVP this year, a testament to his consistent excellence on the court.
This season, Lorayes averaged 17.6 points per match over 16 games.
In his final high school match, he racked up 23 points on 21 attacks and two blocks, while teammates Karl Escobal and Markus Julian contributed 27 points combined in the losing effort.
“Sobrang nakakalungkot kasi yun yung goal namin, ma-defend yung korona ng España. Pero mas ginusto talaga ng NU, hindi naman namin binigay ng basta-basta,” Lorayes said.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
The Final Four series had begun the previous Saturday, with UST sweeping the Bullpups, 25-18, 25-21, 25-17, erasing NU’s twice-to-beat advantage and forcing a knockout match in hopes of retaining their crown.
In Season 87, the Junior Golden Spikers also faced NU in the finals, capturing the title in a Game 2 sweep to end a seven-year championship drought.
“Naka-mindset kami na hindi nila [NUNS] basta-basta bibitawan yan [yung game], mataas yung morale nila. Kaya kung gaano nila ka-gusto, kailangan triplehin namin yung pagtatrabaho namin sa lahat,” Lorayes added.
“Pero kinulang talaga. Ganon naman yung laro, may nananalo, may natatalo. Kailangan mag-move on agad.”
Despite the loss, UST remained gritty, extending the fourth set before an error allowed the Bullpups to book a finals showdown with the University of the East.
Other standout players, including team captain and libero Andrei Amaneo, Zach Maude, Rolf De Asis, and Jakob Mariano, also concluded their junior careers.
Reflecting on his journey, Lorayes shared the lessons he carried from every win and loss: “Yung puso po sa lahat ng ginagawa, kasi walang madali. Kailangan mo lang lagi magdasal at maging grateful sa kung anong meron.”
After a season of hard-fought battles, Lorayes now plans to shift his focus to his studies while looking forward to the next chapter in collegiate volleyball.
“Kung saan po ako dalin ni Lord, kung saan po ako mapunta, tatanggapin ko po,” he concluded.
“Pero UST pa rin.”
