Fighting Maroons destroy AdU Falcons, secure final four slot; Lady Maroons suffer ninth loss to Lady Falcons

Fighting Maroons destroy AdU Falcons, secure final four slot
Lady Maroons suffer ninth loss to Lady Falcons

By Richard Jacob Dy

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The UP men's volleyball team has secured a slot in the final four after winning a thrilling match against the Adamson University (AdU) Falcons in the 71st season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines at the Far Eastern University (FEU) gym last January 31.

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Fearless spikes from UP's Dominico Ramon Lucindo, Giancarlo Ramos and captain ball Jan Paolo Martinez, and nonstop kills from Lloyd Arden Belgado marked the early strength of the UP Fighting Maroons to end the first set in their favor with 25-21. “Mas focused kami ngayon. Yung dating [gameplan] ng team, malaki ang difference ngayon," said Martinez.
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The Falcons posed a threat at the middle of round two after Lucindo’s failed dive led the play to a tie, 13-13. The back-to-back scores from the Falcons were, however, trampled by Belgado's spike and Martinez's block as the second period ended in favor of the Maroons, 25-21.
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The third round proved that the Falcons did not lie resting as they worked with impressive switches, spikes and nearly endless attacks overshadowing impressive showings from UP’s Gerald Magtoto and Luis Antonio Aguilan to end the game with 18-25, in favor, this time, of the AdU Falcons.

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Streak of spikes from both Maroons and Falcons opened the fourth round. After a dive from UP’s Luis Miguel Apostol to save the ball, Belgado killed two to break a tie in favor of the Maroons, 7-6. UP’s Michael Jordan Arda’s spikes and Magtoto’s dink ended the game with a UP win, 25-23.
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Vip Isada, head coach of UP men’s volleyball team, said, "We are experimenting in a new formation for a strategy on how to beat [frontrunner University of Santo Tomas] and we are trying to aim for first place [this season].”

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According to the UP varsity office, the men's volleyball team currently ranks fourth with only three remaining games this season. The Maroons will have their next game against the FEU Tamaraws at the same gym on February 4.
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Lady Maroons, no chance for final four
The UP Lady Maroons will have to hold on to dear life as they have no chance anymore to clinch a slot in the final four after suffering their ninth loss against AdU Falcons at The Arena in San Juan on February 1.

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Captain ball Carmina Barcelon said, “Since we have three games remaining, technically, these [games] have no bearing anymore... [Our players] are practically beginners and we have three players injured, but we are still doing our best and our goal is to end this [volleyball season] united.”

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The first round of the game saw the Lady Falcons’ nearly flawless streak of attacks outdoing notable blocks and spikes from Marie Eileen Quejas, Rebecca Gail Montero and Barcelon. The round ended with a dismal 11-25, in favor of the raging Lady Falcons.
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Remarkable switches from UP's Maan Panganiban, Patricia Nario and Princess Castellvi initially highlighted the second round. But the rest of the set saw the UP players being outdone by AdU’s teamwork as the round ended in favor of the Lady Falcons, 22-25. The game ended during the third round with UP losing, 21-25.

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The Lady Maroons will have their next game against the FEU Lady Tamaraws at The Arena on February 7.#

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(First published in Philippine Collegian.)