Also-ran University of the East Red Warriors slammed the door on De La Salle University’s postseason aspirations, carving out a stunning 25-21, 28-26, 26-24 victory in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Men’s Volleyball Tournament on Wednesday morning at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion in Manila.
With the Green Spikers fighting to keep their slim playoff hopes alive, the trio of Raquim Aceron, Roy Piojo, and Xjhann Camaymayan delivered in the clutch. They allowed the Red Warriors to play spoiler and send La Salle out of the Final Four for the first time since Season 81 (2019).
The loss also ended La Salle’s 17-match winning streak over UE, a run that dated back to Season 77.
The victory, which snapped UE’s two-game skid and lifted its record to 3-10, also formally completed the Final Four cast in the men’s division. The Ateneo Blue Eagles join FEU Tamaraws, defending champion NU Bulldogs, and UST Growling Tigers in the postseason.
The Blue Eagles, who endured three straight fifth-place finishes from Seasons 85 to 87, are returning to the Final Four for the first time since their bronze-medal finish in Season 81.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“We were short of our main goal, which is to enter the Final Four, but we did not stop na mag-ensayo pa rin nang maayos to win games, kasi it’s character building for the team. Sabi ko nga before, bata pa rin naman kami,” UE assistant coach Jumbo Dimaculangan said, noting the Red Warriors’ breakthrough win over La Salle — their first since February 16, 2014 (Season 76), a 25-23, 15-25, 25-21, 25-22 victory.
“We needed na makakuha ng win para to gain more confidence na magagamit pa namin,dahil may isang game pa kami. Magagamit namin siya rin in the coming years,” Dimaculangan added.
UE appeared headed for a straight-sets win, racing to a 13-5 lead in the third set and holding a 24-20 advantage after back-to-back Aceron attacks and a Camaymayan block on Eugene Gloria.
But La Salle responded with a furious four-point run, fueled by three blocks from Cameroonian middle blocker Issa Ouisseini and a Camaymayan attack error, to force a 24-all deadlock.
Still, the Red Warriors held firm in the endgame. Aceron delivered a decisive crosscourt hit before Gloria’s attack clipped the antenna, sealing the straight-sets win in one hour and 25 minutes and avenging their first-round defeat last March 7.
In the extended second set, UE showed composure under pressure, overcoming two set points with a Yoyong Mendoza attack error and an Aceron block on Ouisseini to take a two-sets-to-none lead.
“We’re very happy sa result ng laro kasi ‘yon yung pinagtatrabahuan namin each day. Last season, ayon yung pinaka naging motivation sa sarili ko na kailangan na namin baguhin kung paano kami nakikilala ng tao,” Aceron said, finishing with 19 points built on 17 attacks and two blocks, alongside 22 excellent receptions and three excellent digs.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Piojo added 14 points on 12 attacks and two blocks, along with six excellent receptions and four excellent digs. Then Camaymayan contributed nine points on five attacks and four blocks.
Lance Perit chipped in eight points, while rookie libero Cjay Nabora tallied 13 excellent receptions and 11 excellent digs.
UE, which posted its most wins in a season since going 5-9 in 2023 (Season 85), will wrap up its campaign against Ateneo on Saturday, April 15, at the same venue.
Meanwhile, La Salle suffered its third straight loss, dropping to 5-8 ahead of its final Season 88 assignment against NU on Sunday, April 19, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
Ouisseini led the Green Spikers with 16 points, while Yoyong Mendoza added 11. Eugene Gloria contributed 10 points, along with 21 excellent receptions and seven excellent digs.
Chris Hernandez chipped in seven points, seven excellent receptions, and six excellent digs.
