University of Santo Tomas and Far Eastern University–Diliman continued their unbeaten runs in the UAAP Season 89 High School Boys’ Volleyball Tournament, taking care of Adamson University and Ateneo de Manila University, respectively, on Thursday at the Paco Arena Sports and Events Center in Manila.
The Junior Golden Spikers remained unscathed after four matches, adding the Baby Falcons to their list of victims with a 19–25, 25–21, 25–23, 29–27 victory.
After falling behind 10–13 early in the fourth set, Karl Escobal and Jeff Abalos helped UST regain one-point leads, with Abalos giving the Junior Golden Spikers their first match point through another successful 1–2 play.
Lance Babon tried to keep Adamson in the match and forced the final deadlock at 27-all, but Escobal responded with back-to-back kills to finally close out the contest.
“Yun nga, nahirapan kami; medyo nawala kami sa sistema namin. Nag-lie low ‘yung galaw ng mga players namin. Siguro, may factor din na may exam ‘yung ibang mga bata. Pero hindi ‘yun reason para hindi maganda laro namin,” said seasoned head coach Aying Esteban.
“Factor rin siguro na ‘yung katawan nila, ‘yung utak nila, pagod. At least ginawan nila ng paraan manalo nitong araw na ‘to,” he added.
Escobal finished with 22 points on 19 spikes and three blocks, along with five digs and 18 excellent receptions. Thirdy Domingo chipped in 21 markers on 18-of-35 attacking, while Bernard Capuno added six points and 11 excellent sets.
Abalos, a member of UST’s UAAP Season 87 championship team, proved to be the game changer, coming off the bench to finish with 10 excellent sets and several clutch plays in the fourth set.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
On the other hand, buoyed by its win over National University Nazareth School last Sunday, FEU-D had little trouble dominating Ateneo, 25–8, 25–15, 25–8, to keep pace with UST.
“Pinakamalaking impact talaga dito is ‘yung previous game namin, talagang parang binaon namin. That’s why talagang dominated namin today,” said second-year head coach Rene Dulay.
“Pero mahaba pa, three games pa until the first round. Pero we’re coping pa right now sa mga kakulangan namin. Mina-mindset namin is on recovery muna, then we have to prepare sa mga upcoming games natin,” he added.
FEU-D fielded all its active players, with every spiker scoring at least one point. Outside hitter Kenneth Maliwanag led the way with nine points in two sets. The UAAP Season 87 Rookie of the Year also had two digs and one excellent set.
Jude Abes added seven points from the middle, while Ahmad Korooshavi chipped in six markers and two digs. Sam Hopkins finished with five spikes and two digs.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Meanwhile, the Bullpups had to fend off a tough University of the Philippines Integrated School Fighting Maroons side, 25–17, 26–24, 25–17, earlier in the day to improve to an even 2–2 record and secure a bounce-back win.
With its defense fueling its offense, UPIS leveled the second set at 24-all, but NU Nazareth’s experience prevailed as the Bullpups scored the final two points to take a 2–0 lead.
“Binigyan ko sila ng chance na mag-isip, kaya kanina pinabayaan ko lang sila. Kasi noong mga nakaraang laro, kailangan pa talaga silang bigyan ng instructions. Meron naman kaming napag-uusapan, pero pagdating sa laro, nawawala. So, kanina binigyan ko sila ng chance na mag-isip para ma-improve pa namin ‘yung mga dapat gawin sa loob,” said long-time head coach Edgar Barroga.
Vince Panilawon led the Bullpups with nine points, five coming from blocks and four from attacks.
Ronnie Millan, Ivan Dayrit, and Al-Raquib Dais added seven markers apiece, while Clarenz Altoveros finished with 17 excellent receptions for an 81 percent clip.
The Season 88 Rookies of the Year duo of Justin Jusayan and Prince Jimenez paced the Fighting Maroons with 18 and 11 points, respectively. Jusayan added 10 digs and six excellent receptions, while Jimenez contributed four digs, two positive receptions, and one excellent set.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
University of the East also secured a bounce-back victory, sweeping De La Salle Santiago Zobel School, 25–13, 26–24, 25–15.
“Yung service-receive, do’n talaga kami natatalo. Kasi ‘pag may receive naman, nakaka-atake kami nang maayos. And kasi hanggang ngayon inu-unti pa rin naming binubuo ‘yung team,” said coach Jolas Lopez.
The Junior Warriors still struggled with their passing, finishing at 27 percent, but setter Mharl Dullete delivered 19 excellent sets that translated into 39 kills.
Jack Prade finished 13 of those attacks and added a block for 14 total points. Dullete also peppered DLSZ’s defense with seven aces on his way to 11 points.
The Baby Falcons and Fighting Maroons, both at 1–2, will try to return to the win column at the other’s expense on Friday at 11 a.m.
The Junior Green Spikers and Blue Eagles, both at 0–3, will dispute their first win later that day.
The four teams will cap their back-to-back set of matches.
