The UP Fighting Maroons Men’s and Women’s Volleyball Teams (UPMVT and UPWVT) kicked off the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) volleyball tournament with a double victory against the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors on Feb. 14 at the Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay City.
The UPMVT held off a late challenge from the gritty UE Red Warriors to secure a five set exhilarating win, 25-21, 23-25, 25-23, 23-25, 15-11.
It was a tight game from start to finish, with UPMVT winning the first and third sets, while UE securing the second and fourth frames.
The UP Fighting Maroons then, led by Olayemi Raheem, Tommy Castrodes, Milven Francisco, and Angelo Lipata, started strong in crucial fifth, building a 10-2 lead. The Red Warriors rallied back and mounted an 8-3 run to cut UPMVT’s lead to three points, 10-13. Castrodes then scored an off-the-block hit to give the UP Fighting Maroons the match point, while Raheem ended the game with his own through-the-block spike.
Raheem led the UPMVT with 30 points, followed by Castrodes with 15. Francisco and Lipata added 14 points and 13 points, respectively.
Meanwhile, the UPWVT defeated the UE Lady Warriors in four sets, 25-12, 25-9, 21-25, 25-19.
The UPWVT won the first two sets convincingly, but the Lady Warriors found their groove and took the third set. UE seemed to sustain their momentum into the fourth set, quickly jumping to a 7-4 advantage. The UP Fighting Maroons, then, regrouped, swiftly shifting the game momentum. With Jelai Gajero, Irah Jaboneta, Kianne Olango, and Niña Ytang leading the way, the UPWVT overcame the determined Lady Warriors.
Jaboneta and Ytang paced the UPWVT with 14 points apiece. Olango and Casiey Dongallo both chipped in 13 points. Previously, Dongallo was sent to the dug out in the middle of the third set due to back pain.
The UP Fighting Maroons next games are scheduled on Feb. 22, with the UPMVT facing the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles at 9 a.m., while the UPWVT will clash with the ADMU Lady Eagles at 1 p.m. Both games will also be played at the MOA.
