By: Justine Anne Gaerlan
National University-Nazareth School ended University of Santo Tomas’ nine-game unbeaten streak with a thrilling 25-17, 20-25, 21-25, 25-22, 18-16 victory in the UAAP Season 89 High School Boys’ Volleyball Tournament on Friday at the Paco Arena Events and Sports Center in Manila.
The Bullpups improved to 6-4 and joined the fourth-place tie after claiming their second consecutive win, while preventing the Junior Golden Spikers from becoming the first team to secure a Final Four berth.
Despite the loss, UST remained on top of the standings at 9-1 and secured at least a playoff for a Final Four berth.
“Unbeaten ang UST, so ang importante sa amin dito is talunin sila para mawala ‘yung stepladder. Kaya ginawa namin lahat ng best option na pwede naming gawin. So ‘yun, nag-work naman although may mga miscommunication na nangyayari, but thank God, nanalo pa rin,” said NUNS head coach Edgar Barroga.
The deciding set remained tightly contested, with neither side managing to establish a lead of more than two points. The Junior Golden Spikers reached match point first on a Karl Escobal attack, but Ivbo Bucaya’s service error sent the set into deuce.
Markus Julian put UST back at match point before Al Raquib Dais tied the score for NUNS. Kiel Biscocho then gave the Bullpups their first match point, only for Bernard Capuno to level the score once more for UST.
Vince Panilawon put NUNS at match point again before a Cirilo Domingo attack sailed long, sealing the Bullpups’ comeback victory at 18-16.
“Gusto talaga nilang manalo. Iba ‘yung puso nila kanina kesa nung mga nakaraang laro,” Barroga said.
“Sa amin, medyo mahirap kasi ngayon naghahabol kami ng twice-to-beat. It’s either one or two. Definitely mukhang mahihirapan na kami sa one and two. Kaya ‘yun na lang siguro ang paghahandaan namin.”
Biscocho led all NUNS scorers with 23 points, recording 21 attacks and two blocks in the hour-and-55-minute battle. Dais added 16 points on 15 attacks and a block, while Millan contributed 14 points alongside eight digs.
Jemil Ocampo tallied 15 excellent sets, while Louie Gallego added 12 to facilitate the Bullpups’ offense. Clarenz Altoveros, meanwhile, recorded 27 excellent receptions.
Escobal paced UST with 28 points on 27 attacks and a block, while Capuno contributed 20 points on 16 attacks, three service aces, and a block.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Meanwhile, Far Eastern University-Diliman also secured at least a playoff for a Final Four berth after sweeping defending champion University of the East, 25-19, 25-15, 25-23, for its third consecutive victory.
The Baby Tamaraws remained tied for the top spot with UST at 9-1.
The two teams battled closely in the third set before FEU-D broke a 19-all deadlock with three consecutive points, highlighted by attacks from Sam Hopkins and Kenneth Maliwanag. A Jack Parde attack error then extended the Tamaraws’ advantage.
Ahmad Korooshavi followed with another attack to put the Baby Tamaraws at match point, but UE fended off two match points through attacks from Khian Hiyao and Steven David. Korooshavi eventually put the match away with a kill.
Maliwanag accounted for 17 points in FEU-D’s victory, all coming from attacks in the 65-minute match. Korooshavi chipped in 11 points on eight spikes and three blocks.
Karch Carolino dished out 15 excellent sets to keep the Baby Tamaraws’ offense running, while Samuel Coronel recorded 11 excellent receptions and five excellent digs.
Hiyao led the Junior Warriors in the losing effort with 14 points, tallying nine attacks, three blocks, and two service aces.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Adamson University, meanwhile, moved into a tie with NUNS for fourth place after sweeping Ateneo de Manila University, 25-7, 25-6, 25-7.
The Baby Falcons closed out the sweep with a decisive 9-1 run, capitalizing on consecutive errors from the Blue Eagles. Jade Carlos delivered back-to-back service aces during the run before an attack error from Ateneo handed Adamson match point. Ivann Igga then sealed the victory with a tip.
Lance Babon led the Baby Falcons with 13 points, all coming from attacks in the 47-minute affair. James Bernabe and Janjalani Rebualos added eight points apiece, with Rebualos also directing Adamson’s offense with seven excellent sets.
The victory brought Adamson to an even 5-5 record.
Still winless after 10 games, the Blue Eagles were officially eliminated from Final Four contention.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
De La Salle Zobel, meanwhile, snapped its five-game losing streak with a 25-18, 25-18, 25-18 sweep of University of the Philippines Integrated School.
The Junior Green Spikers had two double-digit scorers in Angelo Ronquillo and Kooper Arguelles, who finished with 13 and 11 points, respectively. Ronquillo tallied 10 attacks, two service aces, and a block, while Arguelles converted nine attacks.
Ranzlee Buco steered the offense with 12 excellent sets, while Luis Papa handled much of the defensive workload with 11 excellent receptions and four excellent digs as DLSZ improved to 2-9 and remained seventh in the standings.
Justin Jusayan and Prince Jimenez, meanwhile, scored all eight of their points through attacks for UPIS, which stayed sixth despite falling to 3-7 following its second consecutive defeat.
