UE deals UST first loss in high school volleyball

UAAP Season 87 Boys' Volleyball Standings

UST 7-1

NUNS 7-1

UE 6-2

FEU-D 4-4

AdU 4-4

DLSZ 5-3

Ateneo 1-7

UPIS 0-8

Games on Saturday

9 a.m. - DLSZ vs NUNS (boys’)

11 a.m. - FEU-D vs UST (boys’)

1 p.m. - UE vs Ateneo (boys’)

3 p.m. - AdU vs UPIS (boys’)

UNIVERSITY of the East bucked a fourth-set meltdown to snap league-leading University of Santo Tomas' streak to seven, 25-23, 19-25, 25-18, 19-25, 15-11, in the UAAP Season 87 High School Boys' Volleyball, tournament on Wednesday at the Paco Arena in Manila.

The win pushed the Junior Red Warriors, now at 6-2, to within a win of the Junior Golden Spikers and the National University Nazareth School Bullpups, both at 7-1.

"Kailangan naming makabawi ng second round. Kasi nung first game namin against UST, nabigla kami. And nung last game naman, umabot ng deciding, pero hindi kami naging lucky at that game," said UE head coach Herbert Dizon, who took over Raffy Mosuela.

The Junior Red Warriors, runners-up of UAAP Season 86, got some revenge from its opening day loss last September 14 against the same squad, 20-25, 17-25, 25-22, 23-25, with its captain Lance Babon leading the way.

Leading with a precarious one-point advantage, the Junior Red Warriors got some breathing room after Babon fired back-to-back kills to extend the lead to three at 11-8 and forced UST coach Clarence Esteban to call for time.

From there, a battle ensued between John Paul Bautista for the Junior Golden Spikers and Babon for the Junior Red Warriors before three straight kills from Christian Antonio sealed the victory for the Recto-based school.

"This second round ang target namin is game-by-game na lang. Hindi muna 'yung buong second round; hindi muna 'yung top four," Dizon added.

Antonio posted a match-high 25 points on 22 kills, including the finishing blows to this contest, and three blocks, while Lance Gian Flestado and Babon added 16 and 14 markers, respectively.

Julian Marcus Dulay outhustled fellow setter Jeff Abalos with 27 excellent sets for UE, as opposed to the latter's 21.

Paolo Medino exploded for 23 points for the Junior Golden Spikers, most of which came from that fourth-set run to force the decider. Bautista backstopped Medino with 14 points, while Sean Cruz chipped in 12 markers.

The preceding result allowed National University Nazareth School to go into the pole with UST following a 25-22, 25-11, 21-15 sweep of Adamson University in a match that lasted one hour, taking its seventh win against one defeat.

A Kalel Ronquillo ace extended the Bullpups' lead to double digits, 21-11, but the Baby Falcons collected three straight points in the ensuing plays. Yuan Mendoza, though, eventually closed out the match with back-to-back kills for the defending champions.

Matthew Abut once more paced the titleholders with 14 points on 11 attacks and three blocks, including a solid one against Arvin Pon-an in that third-set decisive run. The graduating senior also had three digs and eight excellent receptions to anchor the team's floor defense.

Ronquillo's serves and steady playmaking proved the difference as the setter added six points, five from service aces, to his 13 excellent sets.

Ducusin matched Abut's output of 14 markers on 11 attacks, one block, and two service aces, but no other Baby Falcon came close. The squad's 25 errors, especially in that third set, doomed them to their fourth loss.

Adamson's setback enabled Far Eastern University to share the fourth spot in the Final Four picture after a 25-20, 25-10, 25-12 quick work of Ateneo in the day's opening game.

Eldrielle Manlapaz took charge for the Baby Tamaraws with 11 points in two sets of play, while captain Zedrick Calimlim chipped in 10 markers in the win.

Deydi De Ocampo and Xavier Castillo reeled the Blue Eagles, who slipped to 1-7, with eight points each.

Later that day, De La Salle Zobel secured their third victory this season by overpowering University of the Philippines Integrated School in straight sets, 25-20, 25-23, 25-22.

DLSZ's Mario Roxas delivered an outstanding performance, scoring 19 points from 17 attacks and two blocks in the match that took an hour and 11 minutes. Jake Sandrino contributed seven points, and Luis Papa anchored the defense with 15 excellent digs. 

The Junior Green Spikers remain in sixth with a 3-5 card, while the Junior Fighting Maroons continue to search for their first win, dropping to 0-8 in last place.