Behind Lance Flestado, the Adamson Soaring Falcons averted a late collapse to turn back Olayemi Raheem and the UP Fighting Maroons, snapping a five-game skid in UAAP Season 88.
Adamson University withstood a 35-point explosion from Olayemi Raheem to edge the University of the Philippines, 25-21, 28-26, 22-25, 25-27, 15-13, and close the first round of the UAAP Season 88 men’s volleyball tournament on a high note on Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The Soaring Falcons started the season strong with a five-set win over title contender Ateneo Blue Eagles, but stumbled in their next five matches.
Adamson denied UP a reverse sweep, tying both teams at 2-5 in the standings for sixth and seventh places. The Falcons remain just one game behind the Blue Eagles (3-4) in the race for the final Final Four berth.
“Nag full effort talaga ‘yung team at collective effort talaga. Since nakuha namin yung two sets, alam kong mag-aadjust yung UP, but syempre ang instruction ko rin naman, nag-adjust na yung kalaban, so kailangan din natin mag-adjust,” said Adamson head coach Raffy Mosuela.
The match, initially dominated by the Falcons after winning the first two sets, took a dramatic turn as the Maroons fought back to claim the third and fourth frames.
With the first four sets hinting at a nail-biting finish, the deciding fifth set became a tense back-and-forth, tied at 13-all. Adamson then turned to surprise go-to hitter Lance Flestado, who hammered a crosscourt kill for match point.
On the next play, UP’s Kobe Aca-ac attempted to extend the game, but his spike hit the antenna, securing the Falcons’ victory after two hours and 21 minutes.
Rookie Flestado, whose previous career-high was six points, stunned everyone with 28 points on 26 attacks, a block, and an ace.
Ahmed Tahiluddin added 12 points alongside an impressive 33 excellent receptions out of 41 attempts, while Joel Menor also contributed 12 points.
John Gay anchored Adamson with 31 excellent sets, seven points, four attacks, two blocks, and an ace.
For UP, Olayemi unleashed 35 points on 33 spikes and two blocks, a total tied for the fourth-most in UAAP Men’s Volleyball history alongside Bryan Bagunas, who scored 35 points for National U in a Game 2 win over Far Eastern University during the Season 81 Finals on May 16, 2019.
Ateneo’s Marck Espejo still holds the record with 55 points, followed by De La Salle’s Raymark Woo with 39.
Espejo and University of Santo Tomas’ Mark Alfafara also had 37-point games.
Tommy Castrodes, playing against his high school alma mater, added 17 points and 18 excellent receptions for the Fighting Maroons.