Despite being out of the Final Four race, the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons continue their UAAP Season 86 run in the collegiate volleyball tournament after absorbing bittersweet results against the gutsy Adamson Soaring Falcons (AdU) on Saturday, April 13, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Both State U squads remain at the bottom of the standings with a 1-11 record.
Stayed steadfast
The UP Men’s Volleyball Team (UP MVT) finally snatched their first victory of the season following their triumph over the Adamson Soaring Falcons, 19-25, 25-23, 25-23, 28-26.
State U successfully snapped its 15-game losing streak that dates back to the previous season after demonstrating their play-making dominance in the setting (26-20) and receiving (46-38) departments.
This breakthrough win is also a first for Head Coach Sergio “Vip” Isada since he returned to the coaching post after he departed from the team in Season 75.
“It was very good for us … and I think the introduction of [a] new system and culture to the team is the one that brought us to where we are now,” he said during the post-game interview.
The error-ridden UP struggled to keep pace in the opening set as the Soaring Falcons started strong with their early offensive plays led by hitter Francis Casas.
Shaking off a slow start, the Fighting Maroons bounced back in the second chapter with neck-and-neck exchanges as Louis Gamban capitalized on Adamson’s over-reception to bring the match to an 18-all deadlock.
Arriving at set point first, State U fended off the daring efforts of the blue shirts as Angelo Lagando’s lethal kill tied the game at one set apiece.
The maroon squad banked on their momentum as they entered the third and fourth set, ultimately tipping the scales in their favor.
The Soaring Falcons sought to extend the match to a fifth after securing the set point courtesy of back-to-back blocks from Leo Coguimbal and Jude Aguilar.
However, UP team captain Dan Nicolas pummeled back with a quick attack to equalize the match, followed by a Brian Chavez dropball to grab the match point, 27-26.
AdU’s Dan Gutierrez hands the Fighting Maroons their first triumph of the season after scraping the net on his way down from an attack.
“Naging worth it lahat ng paghihirap namin, pagtitiyaga sa training na makuha ‘yung isang panalo na ‘to na tingin ko magbibigay ng motivation sa team para mas lalo pang magtiyaga at makakuha pa ng panalo sa mga susunod na game,” said Nicolas.
Clarence Santiago effectively orchestrated the maroon squad’s offense with 26 excellent sets, accompanied by 7 points built from 3 attacks, three aces and one block.
Four UP players also scored in double digits, with Jaivee Malabanan leading the team with 17 points coming from 14 attacks, two blocks and an ace.
On the other hand, Adamson banked on Marc Paulino and Casas, who chalked 20 and 18 markers, respectively.
Odds slipped away
The UP Women’s Volleyball Team (UP WVT) suffered a heartbreaking loss against the Adamson Lady Falcons in a five-set thriller, 17-25, 25-23, 25-20, 23-25, 13-15.
Despite being outclassed by the Lady Falcons, State U put up a gallant stand compared to their first-round matchup where they absorbed a loss in straight sets.
Although the maroon squad has doubled their blocking and serving performance since their last game against UST with 16 and 5 points, respectively, they still fell short against the Lady Falcons.
Down one set to none, UP bounced back and displayed dominance in the entire second salvo until Barbie Jamili’s attack error ultimately leveled the match at one set each.
The Fighting Maroons held on to their rhythm in the third chapter with a Heart Magsombol block against Jamili fueling the squad’s 5-0 run towards an 18-11 lead.
Up 24-20, Jewel Encarnacion powered a strong hit to put the Lady Maroons in a 2-1 set advantage.
However, the Lady Falcons stayed composed to punish an error-laden UP squad and extended the match to a fifth set.
Despite State U’s determination to regain their momentum, the nip-and-tuck battle was won by the San Marcelino squad, following a double block against Irah Jaboneta’s attack.
Niña Ytang led the team with 17 points, built on 10 attacks and seven blocks, backstopped by Joan Monares and Encarnacion with 16 points apiece.
On the flip side, Jamili and Mary Ann Nuique scored 16 and 15 markers each.
UP will square off against the Far Eastern University on April 20 as the MVT aims to seize back-to-back wins at 10 a.m., while the WVT strives to bounce back at 2 p.m. at the PhilSports Arena.
