Marking their second win in the 22nd season of the National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (NAASCU) men’s volleyball, the Holy Angel University (HAU) Golden Guardians asserted their dominance over the Manuel L. Quezon University (MLQU) Stallions, hacking out a clean 3 – 0 sweep on June 13.
Momentum stayed on HAU’s side from the opening serve to the final point at Guadalupe Nuevo Sports Complex, where they delivered quick blows, solid blocks, and sharp offensive plays that the opponent struggled to return.
Kicking off the first match with both teams neck and neck in the opening five points, the Guardians pulled away with a dominant run, spearheaded by rapid spikes from key players Rein Buan and Arkie Manangan — breaking through the opponent’s defensive wall.
Struggling to keep up with the Guardians’ pace, the Stallions committed a net error, sealing the set for the Guardians, 25 – 9.
In the second set, quick tosses from Vyron Naluz paired with various slams applied constant pressure on the Quezon-based team. Adding to that were unforced errors — specifically over-the-net violations — that handed free points to the Pampanga underdogs.
Naluz’s final combo set capped off the sweep with a commanding 25 – 7 finish, backed by sharp defensive reads on the ground.
Wanting to close the match, the Guardians showcased excellence on the court through a mix of straight serves, spike combos, fake setups, and formidable blocks.
Midway through the set, Lucky Manabat delivered five consecutive serves, effortlessly racking up free points and further tilting the momentum in favor of the Guardians. Within minutes, the set concluded at 25 – 9, once again holding the opposing team to single digits and bagging straight-sets victory.
In an interview, Coach Joy Benito of the men’s volleyball team acknowledged their overall performance as solid, but pointed out areas that still needed improvement.
“Kailangan pa nating i-improve ‘yung communication nila sa loob,” she explained.
“Kasi ngayon, sa game natin, mas sinabayan nila ang kalaban, so kailangan mas iigihan natin kapag gano’n,” she added.
“But I’m always proud of them naman, kahit ano pa ‘yung maging result ng game natin. Kasi ako ‘yung nakakakita ng mga ginagawa nila — na nagagawa nila ‘yung dapat nilang gawin,” Coach Benito expressed, reflecting on the players’ performance.
In anticipation of the next match, the coach remains hopeful for a win, noting that training will continue until Friday.
“Kasi ‘yung sa atin is, last year kasi third place tayo, so ang goal natin is mas umangat pa tayo,” she said, reiterating the varsity team’s objective.
Looking back at the 21st season of NAASCU, HAU secured the second runner-up spot, with the University of Makati placing first runner-up, while Philippine Christian University claimed the championship title.
“So, magfo-focus kami sa kulang namin. Kung ano ‘yung kailangan i-improve, i-improve namin for this coming game on Friday,” Coach Benito concluded.
Set to face their third match on June 20, the team awaits the announcement of their opponent, as NAASCU has not yet released the official brackets.
