By: Justine Anne Gaerlan
University of Santo Tomas and Far Eastern University-Diliman established themselves as the early leaders of the UAAP Season 89 High School Boys’ Volleyball Tournament after repulsing separate foes on Sunday at the Blue Eagle Gym in Loyola Heights, Quezon City.
Karl Escobal continued to make his presence felt on attack, helping UST put away defending champion University of the East, 27-25, 25-18, 25-18, to remain unbeaten at 3-0.
UST pulled away from a one-point advantage late in the third set with a 4-0 run highlighted by three straight aces from Ivbo Bucaya to take a 19-14 lead. Three more consecutive points, punctuated by a Bernard Capuno ace, put the Junior Golden Spikers at match point. Emman Marcelino kept the Junior Warriors alive briefly before Markus Julian closed out the match with a block.
“Very proud ako sa mga bata kasi talagang kita na nagpupursigi sila na gustong-gusto nilang manalo sa season na ‘to,” said UST head coach Clarence Esteban. “Sabi ko nga sa mga players, ‘di naman tayo dun sa nanalo. One game at a time lang…basta tayo maglalaro nang maayos [and] basta every game maglaro lang sila ng sistema namin tsaka gustong-gusto nilang manalo.”
Escobal capped his outing with 18 points on 14 attacks, three blocks, and an ace. Capuno chipped in 11 attacks, two blocks, and two aces.
Chester Esteban tallied 11 excellent sets to run UST’s offense, while Carl Detoyato provided defensive support with eight excellent receptions and five digs in the 69-minute match.
Jack Parde provided UE with a team-high seven points, all from attacks, as the Junior Warriors dropped to 1-2.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
On the other hand, Kenneth Maliwanag turned in another big outing for FEU-D, powering the Baby Tamaraws to a 25-22, 19-25, 27-25, 26-24 victory over the National University-Nazareth School Bullpups to extend their perfect run to 3-0.
FEU-D and NUNS traded leads in a tight fourth set, with the Bullpups taking a 17-15 edge before the Baby Tamaraws answered with a 4-0 run, sparked by back-to-back attacks from Maliwanag, to regain a 19-18 lead. FEU-D stayed ahead through the closing stretch, with Ahmad Korooshavi sealing the 26-24 win with an attack through a triple block.
“Well actually, we’re trying our best na talagang to give it all this time. Last year siguro may heartaches kami pero right now, we’re prepared for this,” said FEU-D head coach Rene Dulay.
“We got the game, pero I think ang naging mindset namin is we must win. We have prepared this hard nung nakaraan pa. Ilang araw naming pinag-aralan ‘tong match-up na ‘to, even the reviews. So thankful na nanalo kami.”
Maliwanag tallied 23 points on 19 attacks and three blocks. Samuel Hopkins added 18 points, all from attacks, while Korooshavi chipped in 16 in the match that lasted one hour and 47 minutes.
Karch Carolino kept the offense in rhythm with 21 excellent sets, while Samuel Coronel anchored the defense with eight excellent digs and 26 excellent receptions on 38 attempts.
For the Bullpups, Al-raquib Dais led the way with 17 points, 14 of which came from attacks. Allen Almodovar added 13 points on nine attacks and four blocks as NUNS fell to 1-2, tying UE for fifth place.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Meanwhile, University of the Philippines Integrated School completed a stunning reverse sweep of De La Salle Zobel, 18-25, 21-25, 25-23, 26-24, 15-10, to even its record at 1-1. DLSZ remained winless at 0-2.
The deciding set remained tight from start to finish, with UPIS breaking an 8-8 deadlock with back-to-back points. A service error from Anthony Cabanting handed the Junior Fighting Maroons the lead before Marcus Bamba followed with a block for a 10-8 cushion. DLSZ then committed an attack error before Julio Pinga came up with consecutive blocks to close out the comeback.
“Previously pa noong two to three UAAP seasons already, sila (DLSZ) ‘yung team na laging kaya pero talo. That’s why ganun sila. Kasi [after] how many seasons, ngayon lang nila natalo Zobel,” said UPIS head coach Hans Chuacuco.
“For them, coming from, again, every year whenever they ask me, I always tell them, dependent kami sa from zero na player to ide-develop. We cannot recruit like the rest of the UAAP schools na very competitive. It’s always, ‘how do we blend the team together?’… Nonetheless, I’m very proud na little by little, nakikita namin ‘yung investment namin sa kanila.”
Prince Jimenez led UPIS with 22 points on 16 attacks, five blocks, and an ace. Season 88 Rookie of the Year Justin Jusayan chipped in 16 points from 14 attacks, a block, and an ace in the hour-and-45-minute battle. Bamba added 15 points and 12 excellent receptions on 43 attempts.
For DLSZ, John Angelo Ronquillo paced the Junior Green Spikers with 18 points on 12 attacks, three blocks, and three aces. Brett Urriquia provided 17 points, all from attacks.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Earlier, Adamson University bounced back from its opening loss to UE with a straight-set victory over Ateneo de Manila University, 25-7, 25-19, 25-10, to level its record at 1-1 and join the shared third spot. Ateneo, meanwhile, fell to 0-2.
James Bernabe finished with a team-best 14 points on 10 attacks and four aces, while former Junior Warrior Lance Babon, Johnlee Macam, and Ian Dayao chipped in seven points apiece. Babon scored all seven through attacks.
Janjalani Rebualos dished out six excellent sets in the 55-minute match.
