The UP Fighting Maroons Men’s Volleyball Team (UPMVT) ended their University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 volleyball tournament campaign on a high note.
The UPMVT defeated the Adamson University (AdU) Soaring Falcons with a thrilling reverse sweep, 21-25, 19-25, 25-11, 25-12, and 15-12, on April 27 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
Down by two sets, the Fighting Maroons turned the tables against the Soaring Falcons in the succeeding frames. With better ball receptions and solid net defense, the UPMVT took the third and fourth sets convincingly to send the game into a decider set.
The Soaring Falcons started strong in the final set and was ahead by two points, 8-6. The UPMVT then, led by Olayemi Raheem and Tommy Castrodes, towed the UPMVT to 7-1, scoring blitz for a 13-9 lead. The Soaring Falcons, however, scored two consecutive points to come within two points, 11-13.
In the next rally, Raheem scored from a cross-court attack to put the Fighting Maroons at set point. AdU’s Marc Paulino responded with an off-the-block attack before Raheem punctuated the game with his own off-the-block spike.
Raheem led the UPMVT’s well-distributed point production with 19 points, built from 13 attacks, five blocks, and a service ace. Castrodes, who was named best player of the game, came up with 16 points, 13 excellent receptions, and eight excellent digs. Milven Francisco, Angelo Legando, and Dan Nicolas chipped in eight points apiece.
The victory enabled the UPMVT to achieve a clean sweep against the Soaring Falcons in the elimination round, following their four-set victory during the first-round match on March 16. UPMVT finished this season with a 4-10 record, two wins better than their performance in UAAP Season 86.
