University of the East finally snapped a 23-game slump with a thrilling 25-22, 20-25, 25-23, 30-32, 15-12 victory over Adamson University in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Men’s Volleyball Tournament at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday.
The Red Warriors overcame the Falcons’ 23 blocks to secure their first win in nearly two years.
Before this long stretch marked by a winless Season 87, UE’s last victory came in a 25-21, 19-25, 28-30, 27-25, 15-12 triumph over the University of the Philippines during Season 86’s first round on March 17, 2024.
After falling short to the Fighting Maroons in five sets in the season opener, the Red Warriors got it right this time.
For assistant coach Jumbo Dimaculangan, this win is proof that UE is making progress despite being one of the youngest teams in the tournament with eight rookies.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“To be honest ang sarap manalo ulit dito sa UAAP… I would say we have a very young team now, and the rookies that we have, they are not prized recruits. Pero mas naniniwala kami na once we see a potential sa player, we try to develop them,” said Dimaculangan, as head coach Jerome Guhit had to leave immediately to join Capital1’s game against Creamline in the Premier Volleyball League.
“Kailangan namin trabahuhin kung anong meron kami, and we’re happy with this result kasi after two seasons, uy may resulta. And that’s more than enough for us para ipagpatuloy.”
The Soaring Falcons grabbed an early 7-5 lead in the deciding set, but the Red Warriors responded with four straight points. Raquim Aceron and CJ Nabora’s back-to-back hits, along with two Adamson errors, gave them a 9-7 advantage.
After Adamson tied it at 10, UE pulled away for good with four unanswered points — Nabora’s attack, Gerald Perit’s contribution, and two Falcons’ errors — to reach four match points at 14-10.
Nabora, who played libero in their opener, sealed the win with an off-the-block kill, giving UE its first victory in three games after two hours and 26 minutes.
“If na-ba-block ako, hindi ako nagpakain sa frustrations. Bounce back lang ulit kasi nandiyan naman ‘yung teammates ko and coaches ko to guide me,” said Nabora, who finished with 17 points on 15 spikes and two blocks, along with 13 receptions and seven digs.
“Sila ‘yung sandalan ko kahit anong mangyari so doon ako bumabawi, para sa teammates at para sa paaralan na ito.”
Sophomore spiker Raquim Aceron led UE with 24 points and 21 excellent receptions, while rookie Mark Lee Budias contributed an impressive 16 points.
The Red Warriors also turned the Falcons’ 23-block effort into a 73-63 advantage in spikes, creating a tie for fourth place with identical 1-2 records in the standings.
UE will look to build on this momentum next Saturday when it faces the University of Santo Tomas at its Quadricentennial Pavilion.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Rookie Jims Ducusin paced Adamson with 24 points, followed by Richard Besorio with 17 points — nine of which came via blocks.
Besorio’s nine blocks marked the most by any men’s volleyball player since NU’s Obed Mukaba also recorded nine in a five-set win over UE on March 12, 2023.
Adamson will have a week to regroup before facing Far Eastern University on March 1 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
