The University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons suffered twin setbacks against the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in their sixth game in UAAP Season 88 on Wednesday, March 11, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The UP Men’s Volleyball Team (MVT) slipped to a 2-4 slate, while the UP Women’s Volleyball Team (WVT) absorbed its second straight loss, dropping to a 3-3 record.
Rally falls short
Long rallies and brief surges of momentum marked the clash but straight sets told the final result as the UP MVT dropped its third straight match of the season against the UST Golden Spikers, 22-25, 18-25, 16-25.
State U overcame a sluggish start courtesy of rookie Zairus Pacure breaking down a triple block, sparking a mini-run to equalize the opening set at 3-3 before both teams traded points midway through the canto.
Team captain Olayemi Raheem unloaded crosscourt swings, while Abram Robles delivered a block and quick conversion at the middle to keep the Maroons within striking distance at 10-12.
Despite a late push from the Diliman-based squad, the Golden Spikers’ endgame execution allowed them to seal the first set, 22-25.
Early in the second set, the Fighting Maroons capitalized on Milven Francisco’s middle plays and a pipe attack from Raheem to keep the Maroons in the thick of a tight exchange.
Pacure then delivered a service ace that handed UP its first lead of the match, 11-10.
Momentum swung back to the yellow shirts as Josh Ybañez, JJ Macam and Joncriz Ayco spearheaded a run that stretched the lead to claim another set advantage, 18-25.
Raheem continued to shoulder the offensive load in the final set, but a string of costly errors midway widened the gap to 12-19.
State U cut its deficit to five with Pacure rising for a checkball off the blockers and Francisco capitalizing on an overpass at the net, but a final denial on Tommy Castrodes handed the Diliman-based squad its fourth loss.
Raheem paced the Fighting Maroons’ scoring efforts with 12 points, while Pacure and Francisco added eight and seven markers, respectively.
Meanwhile, Ybañez, Macam and Ayco had combined 30 points to anchor the Golden Spikers’ offense.
Off-system struggles
The UP WVT came out firing early in the match but could not sustain its momentum as the UST Golden Tigresses staged a comeback win, 25-16, 13-25, 19-25, 20-25, dealing the Fighting Maroons their third defeat this season.
UP extended its losing streak against the España-based squad, dating back to the second round of Season 80.
The Fighting Maroons opened the match with an early 4-0 lead as Jaz Manguilimotan fired an ace and Niña Ytang capitalized on UST’s shaky floor defense with a drop ball.
State U took advantage of UST’s miscues as Jelai Gajero unleashed a cross-court hit to give the WVT its largest lead of the match, 22-11.
The España-based squad threatened a late run but the Diliman-based squad eventually earned the early advantage as sophomore Bienne Bansil ended the set with an off-the-block attack.
The Maroon volleybelles struggled to maintain the same rhythm in the second salvo as the Tigresses mounted an early 8-1 run off UP’s unforced errors, ultimately losing the set, 13-25.
State U sought to regain control in the third set as Kianne Olango scored two consecutive points off an attack and a block to give the maroon shirts a 2-0 lead.
However, off-system plays plagued the Maroons as UST’s Jonna Perdido delivered the final hit to secure another set for the Tigresses, 19-25.
Attempting to push for a decider, UP regained composure in the fourth with Irah Jaboneta blocking an attack from Reg Jurado to give the Diliman-based squad a 13-9 lead.
The Golden Tigresses took their first lead of the set at 14-15, but Gajero’s three consecutive off-the-block attacks kept the Maroons afloat, 19-21.
State U saved one match point off a service error by Lianne Penuliar, but another service-line miscue by playmaker Manguilimotan dashed the Fighting Maroons’ hopes for an extension, 20-25.
Ytang led the maroon charge with 14 points, combining 11 attacks and three blocks, while Gajero added 12 markers from 11 attacks and a block.
On the side of España, Angge Poyos spearheaded UST with 24 points while Jurado and Perdido added 16 and 12, respectively.
Both squads aim to snap their skids and finish the first round of eliminations on a high note as they face Adamson University on Sunday, March 15, at the same venue.
