Adamson caps first round high school volleyball in fourth

UAAP Season 87 Boys’ Volleyball Standings

UST 7-0

NUNS 6-1

UE 5-2

AdU 4-3

FEU-D 3-4

DLSZ 2-5

Ateneo 1-6

UPIS 0-7

ADAMSON University closed out the first round of the UAAP Season 87 High School Boys' Volleyball Tournament with a commanding straight-set win over De La Salle Zobel, 25-16, 25-17, 25-17, on Sunday at Paco Arena in Manila.

Jims Ducusin led the Baby Falcons once again, scoring 16 points with 13 attacks and two blocks in the 62-minute match. Brice Malinao and Neil Tobias, who saw action in the first two sets also made key contributions, adding nine and seven points, respectively. James Javinal facilitated the offense smoothly with 13 excellent sets.

Adamson moved up to 4-3, a game ahead of Far Eastern University-Diliman (3-4) in the race for the last Final Four berth.

University of Santo Tomas topped the first round via seven-match sweep, followed by defending champion National University-Nazareth School (6-1) and University of the East (5-2).

The third set began with both teams trading points before the Baby Falcons soon found their rhythm, scoring eight consecutive points that put them ahead, 18-11. The Junior Green Spikers struggled to close the gap as Jaspher Oligo delivered an attack that brought them to match point. Arvin Pon-an then sealed the win with a kill to clinch the victory, 25-17.

“‘Yung mga error lang talaga ‘yung inaano namin kasi’ yun naman talaga ang problema ng team lalo na pagdating sa service [and] receive. ‘Pag lumalamang nakakampante tapos mahahbol so kailangan ‘yun ang trabahuhin namin bago pumasok sa second round,” said Adamson head coach Marvin Ramoso.

“Kung ano ‘yung goal namin nung first round hanggang ‘yung katapusan ng season, kailangan dire-diretso pa rin at walang magre-relax kasi sabi ko nga second round na. Kailangan mas mag-double time pa kami kasi ‘yung dalawa bumalik na e. Galing sa injury yung dalawa tapos yung isa may sakit,” explained Ramoso, referring to Arvin Pon-an, who suffered a broken nose, Dhanver Custodio who had an ankle injury, and Kirk Partosa who recently recovered from dengue. “Ngayon lang kami nabuo kung kailan last game na namin. So papasok ng second round, sabi ko nga, kailangan mas solid kami ngayon kasi buo na ‘yung team.”

Mario Roxas paced the Junior Green Spikers in defeat, contributing 12 points, all from 12 attacks.

The Junior Green Spikers remained in sixth after falling to 2-5. 

Meanwhile, Ateneo de Manila University wrapped up the first round on a high note, breaking into the win column with a four-set victory over University of the Philippines Integrated School, 25-18, 25-20, 26-28, 25-17.

This victory marks their first since they last triumphed over the Junior Green Spikers back in Season 85.

“Very happy for the team because they worked hard for this. Most of them, like Ranidel De Ocampo, a lot of them are like, first time to play, first time to play a volleyball game,” said Ateneo head coach Babes Castillo. “Ang daming first [time players]. So daming struggles. They tested their character, did it in pressure games, but of course we don’t like it, but we know that we need it so I’m glad that they went through it and overcame those situations because that’s the main thing they have to learn to recover from tight situations.”

Ethan Rivera and Ken Nicolas topped the scoring for the Blue Eagles with 15 points apiece, Rivera tallying 10 attacks and four aces, while Nicolas notched 14 kills and 10 digs. 

James Gamon paced the Junior Fighting Maroons with 11 markers in their loss.

Ateneo improved to 1-6, climbing to seventh place, while UPIS fell to 0-7 at the bottom of the standings.