The UP Men’s Volleyball Team (UPMVT) defeated the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Spikers in four thrilling-sets 25-23, 25-19, 21-25, 25-22 in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 volleyball tournament on Feb. 25 at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
With Olayemi Raheem, Milven Francisco, Abram Robles, and Zairus Pacure leading the charge, the UPMVT won the tightly-contested first two sets. The Green Spikers then showed grit by displaying good net defense and were able to snatched the third frame of the game.
The two teams then battled it out from the onset of the fourth frame. With the game tied at 19 apiece, Tommy Castrodes ignited the UPMVT’s final push with an off-the-block attack, after which Raheem scored three consecutive cross-court spikes, and a DLSU rotation error handed the Fighting Maroons match point, 24-19.
DLSU, however, responded with three consecutive points courtesy of Eugene Gloria and JJ Rodriguez to cut trim down UPMVT’s lead to two points, 22-24. In the next rally, Castrodes scored from an off-the-block spike to seal the victory for the Fighting Maroons.
Raheem, once again, powered the UP Fighting Maroons with 29 points built from 25 attacks, three blocks, and an ace. Francisco contributed 11 points, while Robles and Pacure chipped in nine points and eight points, respectively.
The UP Fighting Maroons will face the National University Bulldogs on Feb. 28, 3 p.m. at the University of Santo Tomas Quadricentennial Pavilion.