UAAP: UST, FEU-Diliman share early lead in boys’ volleyball

MANILA — University of Santo Tomas and Far Eastern University-Diliman are tied for first place in the UAAP Season 89 boys’ volleyball tournament after sweeping their respective opponents on Tuesday at the Paco Arena in Manila.

The Junior Golden Spikers improved to 2-0 after a quick 25–7, 25–8, 25–9 demolition of Ateneo.

Meanwhile, the Baby Tamaraws also racked up a second win in a row thanks to a 25–15, 25–15, 25–18 triumph over the University of the Philippines Integrated School.

UST stormed out of the gates with a 9–0 run behind the service of Chester Esteban in the opening set and never looked back.

“Yung pagkapanalo namin ng first game [against National University-Nazareth School], malaking kumpiyansa binigay sa mga bata. Naging maganda galaw nila, nawala yung first game jitters sa mga bago. Nagbunga so far yung pinaghihirapan namin,” said head coach Aying Esteban.

Esteban fielded 15 of his 16 players, with opposite hitter Jireh Torotoro the only Junior Golden Spiker to play all three sets.

Torotoro paced UST with eight points on 54 percent attacking efficiency, along with three digs, while Kristoff Tequillo matched his eight-point output despite playing just one set—the second frame—with six of his points coming from aces.

All but one of the Junior Golden Spikers finished with at least two points.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Korooshavi continued to step up for the injured Tyler Ramos, complementing Kenneth Maliwanag’s impressive outing as FEU Diliman remained unbeaten through its first two matches.

Korooshavi finished with eight points on seven attacks and one block, while also contributing two digs and a 43 percent reception efficiency.

Maliwanag exploded for 18 points, while Jude Abes added seven markers from the middle.

“So far, OK yung team, but we cannot predict kasi mahaba pa yung season. Nevertheless, we’ll continue preparing and adjusting on the system na in-adopt namin ngayon. Nakukuha naman ng mga bata pero paano namin ma-mantain, yun lang big question,” said second-year head coach Rene Dulay on their strong start.

Last year’s Rookie of the Year, Justin Jusayan, picked up where he left off by leading UPIS with 14 points and nine excellent receptions. Captain Marco Bamba was a distant second with five markers.

Joaquin Santiago showed promise in his first-ever UAAP game, finishing with three points and five excellent receptions for Ateneo.

In the afternoon matches, NU Nazareth and University of the East bounced back from opening-day defeats to even their records at 1–1.

The Bullpups turned back the De La Salle Zobel Junior Green Spikers, 25–18, 25–13, 25–17, while the Junior Warriors delivered the closer against the Adamson University Baby Falcons, 25–19, 25–13, 25–22.

Ronnie Millan was solid at the net for NU Nazareth with 10 points and an impressive five excellent receptions at a 71 percent clip, while setter Ar-Raquib Dais was similarly aggressive, finishing with nine points.

“Hindi kasi gumana yung mga open hitters ko that game, so naghahanap pa kami ng pwedeng i-convert na sabihin na nating magpeperform consistently,” said long-time Bullpups head coach Edgar Barroga, who lost Elmerson Lejano to graduation.

For UE, Mharl Dullete took charge against Adamson to lead the defending champions to victory and give new head coach Dino Arnaldo a winning debut.

The captain and setter was relentless from the service line, producing 10 points, seven of them from aces, on top of his 22 excellent sets.

“Since karamihan sa players ko bago, baka na-overwhelm sila sa first game. Ang sabi ko, ‘Yung first game, let go na ‘yon.’ Kaya yan ang lumabas ngayon,” Arnaldo said.