What the audiences cheer from the stands, the UP Men’s Volleyball Team (MVT) embodies.
Matatapang, matatalino. Walang takot, kahit kanino—even with facing the league’s top-seeded team.
The Fighting Maroons leaned on their grit and system as they forced the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws in a grueling five-setter thriller yesterday, April 6, at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
A costly almost
After yielding to the Morayta-based squad, 19-25, 21-25, 25-20, 31-29, 12-15, UP now sits at the sixth spot with a 3-8 record.
The loss also cost UP MVT’s chance in entering the Final Four.
Still, with three more matches left for the season, veteran Angelo Lipata sees this as a learning experience for them to come back stronger.
“Dadamdamin ko ‘yung pagkatalo namin ngayon, syempre as sa FEU rin ako galing, so dadamdamin ko rin ‘yung pagkatalo namin, [pero] babawi sa next game tapos tapangan pa sa laban,” said Lipata in a post-game interview with Tinig ng Plaridel.
Lipata, who was converted as an open hitter in their previous game against the UE Red Warriors, delivered his best performance of the season, providing steady support with a double-double of 11 points and 17 excellent receptions.
Meanwhile, rookies Olayemi Raheem and Tommy Castrodes continued to lead UP’s offensive front with 25 points and 17 markers, respectively.
Echoing team captain Gian Samaniego’s statement in their matchup against the National University Bulldogs, Lipata highlighted the importance of sticking to the team’s system.
“Ginawa ko lang ‘yung best ko para makatulong sa team ko and hindi naman ako ginawa ni coach [Carlo Cabatingan] na maging open [hitter] kung wala akong naitutulong sa laro,” said the 6-foot spiker.
Lipata started the season as a middle blocker alongside fellow senior Dan Nicolas and rookie Milven Francisco. He also played the same position in high school as a former FEU-Diliman standout.
“Ngayon, [focus lang na] may mai-contribute ako sa team kung ano mang position. May tiwala naman si coach sa’kin.” he added.
Test of resilience
As the Tamaraws clinched the first two sets, the Fighting Maroons strived to keep them at bay in the third frame, maintaining the lead to as much as five points.
A powerful hit from Raheem and consecutive attack errors from the green-and-yellow shirts sealed the set and kept State U’s hopes for a reverse sweep alive.
The fourth salvo tested both sides of the court as FEU’s top scorer Dryx Saavedra hustled to fend off UP through drilling a backrow hit, leading to a 24-all deadlock to extend the set.
Yet the Maroons were proved to be unfazed as back-to-back attacks from Raheem and a service ace from Marlon De Guzman forced the teams to a decider, 31-29.
What began as a nail-biting fifth set did not end well for the Diliman-based squad as FEU found their way to break through UP’s defense, securing the first Final Four spot through Mikko Espartero’s single block to Raheem.
Saavedra and Espartero led the Tamaraws’ charge with 29 points and 16 markers, respectively.
State U will look to shake up the standings in their 11 a.m. match-up against the De La Salle University Green Spikers on April 13 at the same venue.
