UE at cusp of clinching UAAP boys' volleyball title

c/o UAAP

Games Sunday at the Blue Eagle Gym
2 p.m. – UE vs NUNS (Boys)
4 p.m. – NUNS vs FEU-D (Girls)

UNIVERSITY of the East displayed tremendous composure despite losing a four-point lead in the fifth set to outlast National University Nazareth School, 25-22, 21-25, 25-18, 23-25, 15-13, moving closer to ending an 11-year title drought in the UAAP Season 88 High School Boys' Volleyball Tournament, Thursday at the Blue Eagle Gym.

It can be recalled that the Junior Warriors were the ones who handed the Bullpups their first loss in the elimination round, taking a 25-23, 25-18, 25-22 sweep last October 26 that snapped NUNS’s seven-game winning streak.

The Bullpups, in contrast, needed five sets to beat the Junior Warriors in their first encounter, 20-25, 23-25, 25-20, 25-22, 15-8, on September 28.

Clarence Gianan pushed the Junior Warriors to a 13-9 lead, but the Bullpups responded with four straight points capped by a Mikhael Abut service ace to tie the match at 13-13.

Playing its third straight five-setter dating back to the final day of eliminations, UE reached match point on a Jordino Perales ace, and NUNS doused any hopes of a lifeline after Al-raquib Dais’ spike went out of bounds.

Both teams needed the full two games to reach the Final Four after losing their semis openers that disarmed their twice-to-beat advantages.

NUNS fell to University of Santo Tomas, while UE was stunned by Far Eastern University-Diliman in the opening games.

The Bullpups recovered against the Junior Golden Spikers, 25–22, 25–19, 23–25, 26–24, and the Junior Warriors outlasted the Tamaraws, 21-25, 25-22, 23-25, 25-19, 15-9, last December 8 to forge a title clash.

Having endured consecutive marathon matches, the Junior Warriors have become tougher, with their eyes set on a 15th title and their first since completing an 11-peat in UAAP Season 77 (2014).

"Pinalalakas ko yung loob nila," said second-year UE coach Herbert Dizon.

Paul Roque led the Junior Warriors with a match-best 22 kills, Emmanuel Marcelino contributed 15 points and 24 receptions, while Gianan and Miguel Catanghal had 11 points each. Mharl Dullete added 30 excellent sets.

"Yung game namin, nag-contribute lahat. May mga time na naba-blangko na mga kasama ko pero gumagawa kami, humahanap kami ng paraan na maka-score at maka-contribute, individually and as a team," said Gianan.

For the Bullpups, Ragusta had 18 points, including two kills during their rally from a 9-13 deficit. Dais contributed eight blocks for a 13-point outing, while Christian Mangahoy also tallied 13 points.

UE goes for the jugular in Game 2 at 2 p.m. on Sunday at the same Katipunan venue.