Camille Naredo

The UE Junior Red Warriors celebrate after beating FEU-Diliman in the Final 4 of the UAAP Season 88 boys' volleyball tournament, December 8, 2025 at the Blue Eagle Gym in the Ateneo de Manila University campus in Quezon City. UAAP Media

The UE Junior Red Warriors celebrate after beating FEU-Diliman in the Final 4 of the UAAP Season 88 boys' volleyball tournament, December 8, 2025 at the Blue Eagle Gym in the Ateneo de Manila University campus in Quezon City.

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UAAP Season 88

ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- Top-seeded National University-Nazareth School and the University of the East claimed contrasting wins over their Final 4 foes to arrange a championship showdown in the UAAP Season 88 boys&#x27; volleyball tournament.The Bullpups bounced back in their do-or-die affair against University of Santo Tomas, 25–22, 25–19, 23–25, 26–24, on Monday at the Blue Eagle Gym in the Ateneo de Manila University campus.NU-Nazareth is making its sixth-straight Finals appearance in boys&#x27; volleyball.Meanwhile, the Junior Red Warriors recovered from a five-set loss to Far Eastern University-Diliman to oust the Baby Tamaraws in another thriller, 21–25, 25–22, 23–25, 25–19, 15–9.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/volleyball/2025/12/6/uaap-feu-diliman-ust-force-do-or-die-matches-in-boys-volleyball-1800">READ: FEU-Diliman, UST force do-or-die matches in boys&#x27; volleyball</a></div>The best-of-3 series between NU-Nazareth and UE is a rematch of the Season 86 championship, which saw the Bullpups defeat the Junior Red Warriors in three games behind Jeffe Gallego and Miguel Egger.Game 1 of the best-of-three Finals is scheduled for Thursday, December 11, at 2 p.m., at the same Katipunan venue.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1765186813762UAAP88 HSBVB - NUNS vs UST- BISCOCHO Jerowe Ezekiel-2977.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Action between National University-Nazareth School and University of Santo Tomas in the Final 4 of the UAAP Season 88 boys&#x27; volleyball tournament, December 8, 2025 at the Blue Eagle Gym in the Ateneo de Manila University campus in Quezon City. UAAP Media" width="960"/>Action between National University-Nazareth School and University of Santo Tomas in the Final 4 of the UAAP Season 88 boys&#x27; volleyball tournament, December 8, 2025 at the Blue Eagle Gym in the Ateneo de Manila University campus in Quezon City. UAAP Media</div>Newcomer Kiel Biscocho shrugged off first-timer nerves to lead the Bullpups against Rainier Lorayes and the defending champions, combining with leading opposite hitter Xandrex Ragusta to put NUNS ahead, 20–19, in the fourth set.After a Christian Maghanoy point extended NUNS&#x27;s lead to 21–19, graduating middle blocker Zach Maude and Karl Escobal pulled UST back at 23-all. Biscocho and Ragusta, however, responded to the UST defense and set the match-point advantage, before Maude&#x27;s attack narrowly went wide, giving the Bullpups the win after two hours and five minutes.&quot;Actually, may in-adjust kami para sa UST, pero instead na maging effective, nakasama pa. So, bumalik lang kami do&#x27;n sa ginagawa namin dati, naging mas madali para sa kanila and mas naging comfortable sila, kaya nakuha namin &#x27;yung panalo,&quot; said long-time NUNS head coach Edgar Barroga.Ragusta finished with 20 points, while Biscocho added 17; the duo accounted for 37 of the Bullpups&#x27; 56 spikes. Elmerson Lejano contributed 14 points, including four kill blocks.Libero Geoff Deniega was instrumental in the win, recording a massive double-double of 11 digs and 33 excellent receptions, enabling setter and captain Brylle Crespo to deliver 34 excellent sets in NUNS&#x27;s well-oiled offense.Rainier Lorayes starred for UST in his swan song with a game-high 23 points and 12 digs, while fellow senior Andrei Amaneo closed his high school career with 18 digs and 20 excellent receptions.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1765186835162UAAP88 HSBVB - FEU-D vs UE- UE-3746.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="The UE Junior Red Warriors celebrate after beating FEU-Diliman in the Final 4 of the UAAP Season 88 boys&#x27; volleyball tournament, December 8, 2025 at the Blue Eagle Gym in the Ateneo de Manila University campus in Quezon City. UAAP Media" width="960"/>The UE Junior Red Warriors celebrate after beating FEU-Diliman in the Final 4 of the UAAP Season 88 boys&#x27; volleyball tournament, December 8, 2025 at the Blue Eagle Gym in the Ateneo de Manila University campus in Quezon City. UAAP Media</div>For the Junior Red Warriors, Khian Hiyao proved decisive, particularly in the fifth-set finishing run when Tyler Ramos and the Baby Tamaraws were mounting a comeback.The 17-year-old rookie showed no signs of nerves, scoring two crucial points in the decider. Hiyao sent UE into double figures at 10–8 before helping fuel the final push with a solid block on Kenneth Maliwanag.With both net and floor defense in their favor, the Baby Tamaraws failed to score in the closing stages, missing three straight attempts and handing the fifth frame—and the match—to the No. 2 seeds.&quot;Nakatulong siguro talaga &#x27;yung determination namin na makapasok sa Finals. &#x27;Yung focus talaga namin is do&#x27;n sa goal na &#x27;yon, &#x27;yon lang,&quot; said second-year mentor Herbert Dizon, making his first-ever Finals appearance.Hiyao started in place of captain and Season 87 Best Middle Blocker Clarence Gianan, who played as the starting opposite spiker, finishing with seven points. Fellow middle attacker Miguel Catanghal contributed 11 markers.Emman Marcelino bounced back from a quiet Game 1 with a triple-double of 15 points, 12 digs, and 23 excellent receptions, while Paul Roque topped all UE scorers with 18 points on 16 spikes and two blocks.Maliwanag exploded for 28 points on 23 attacks, adding four blocks and a service ace for the Baby Tamaraws, while Ramos finished with 16 markers.Brix Landicho delivered 27 excellent sets in his final UAAP high school game for the bronze-medalist FEU-D.

Top-seeded National University-Nazareth School and the University of the East claimed contrasting wins over their Final 4 foes to arrange a championship showdown in the #UAAPSeason88 boys' volleyball tournament.

Top-seeded National University-Nazareth School and the University of the East claimed contrasting wins over their Final 4 foes to arrange a championship showdown in the #UAAPSeason88 boys' volleyball tournament.

UAAP: NU-Nazareth, UE set up showdown for boys' volleyball crown

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UAAP: NU-Nazareth, UE set up showdown for boys' volleyball crown

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 08, 2025 05:41 PM PHT

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