University of the East relied on the scoring brilliance of Lloyd Josafat to surprise University of the Philippines, 25-11, 23-25, 25-20, 28-26, and enter the win column of the UAAP Season 82 Men’s Volleyball Tournament Saturday at SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The Red Warriors needed every bit of Josafat’s 32-point eruption to thwart a late surge from the Fighting Maroons and end an 8-game losing run dating back last season.
UE gave up a string of service errors late in the decisive fourth set, allowing UP to close in on an extension with a 22-19 lead.
Josafat then slowly sliced the deficit with quick hits at the middle and knotted the count at 23, before coughing out a service attempt to put the Fighting Maroons at match point.
Fortunately, John Andaya forged a deuce. It triggered a back-and-forth swing until Andaya broke a 26-all lock, setting up Josafat’s match-clinching block.
Coming off an opening day loss to FEU, UE head coach Jerome Guhit praised his wards composure and hunger for victory after their breakthrough win.
“This game nakaka-proud sila kasi ‘yung trinaining namin, lumalabas na. Tsaka tingin ko naman talagang gutom na gutom sila sa panalo eh,” Guhit said. “Tsaka, ‘yun nga, sabi ko mga bata sila so nandiyan sila para i-prove ‘yung sarili nila kaya maganda ‘yung ginalaw nila.”
Andaya and Kenneth Roi Culabat provided support for Josafat, contributing 15 and 14 markers, respectively.
