(Photo by Sam Roie Quilates)
Marking its fifth game, the Holy Angel University (HAU) Golden Guardians secured another homecourt victory, 3 – 2, against the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Marikina (PLMAR) Zapatos in the men’s volleyball competition of Season 1 of the Universities and Colleges Premier League (UCPL), held yesterday, February 4, at the Immaculate Heart (IH) gymnasium.
Despite a slow start, the Golden Guardians were unable to gain momentum in the first set, falling short by 10 points. The guest team dominated after the score was tied at seven, securing the win, 14 – 24.
However, the home team turned the tables in the second set with solid defense and fast-paced, powerful smashes. One such smash by Arkie Manangan saw the opposing team unable to defend, helping the Guardians snag a win of 25 – 23 after a neck-and-neck match, as both teams traded points in a prolonged and heated battle on the court.
In the third set, with both teams tied, the match intensified with heavy, fast attacks and strong defenses. The battle extended to a deuce, but unfortunately for the PLMAR Zapatos, outside hitter Carly Marzan ended the match with a powerful strike set up by setter James Diaz, giving the Guardians a 27 – 25 victory.
It seemed the volleyball team’s luck had shifted, but the Zapatos snatched it back, winning 22 – 25. The Zapatos maintained the momentum from the first and second sets, with the match tied at 22 – 22. However, the Marikina fighters refused to surrender, blocking an attack from the Guardians, which prevented them from taking the lead.
A tiebreaker set followed as both teams were tied at two sets each. Despite the pressure, their fervor to win drove them through a nerve-racking, intense match.
The Zapatos, leading in the final moments, faced off against the Golden Guardians, who rallied and racked up points to catch up. Eventually, the Guardians took control in the extended tiebreaker and delivered a final strike that sealed the win, 16 – 14.
In an interview with the Angelite, Golden Guardian player Carly Marzan expressed the pressure she felt throughout the game, especially since it was their home court.
“Even though there were many lapses in training and some lapses in the team, we still managed to win,” she answered with pride.
“Laban lang with puso and mind,” she continued.
The men’s volleyball matches will continue on February 6 and 11 and will be streamed live on the official Facebook page of the UCPL, according to Marzan.
