Kenneth Maliwanag of FEU-Diliman in action against UE in the UAAP Season 89 boys' volleyball tournament, September 19, 2026 at the Paco Arena in Manila. UAAP Media
MANILA — Far Eastern University-Diliman made an early statement in the UAAP Season 88 boys' volleyball tournament with a stunning sweep of defending champion University of the East.
The Baby Tamaraws claimed a 25-19, 25-19, 25-16 result on Saturday at the Paco Arena in Manila for a triumphant start to a new era for the squad.
FEU-Diliman entered the tournament without major contributors from their Season 88 campaign, including Best Setter Brix Landicho and Second Best Middle Blocker Ron Andrei De Vera.
Now leading the way is Season 87 Rookie of the Year Kenneth Maliwanag, along with team captain Alwyn Abujen and Tyler Ramos.
Behind Maliwanag, FEU-D took a two-set advantage before pulling away in the third, using a 7-3 run to create separation. Maliwanag and Ahmad Korooshavi continued to find openings in the UE defense, while the Junior Warriors struggled to manufacture points outside of Baby Tamaraw errors.
FEU-D's cushion eventually grew to 21-13 before UE managed to cut the deficit to five. The Baby Tamaraws, however, answered with four straight points, highlighted by a Korooshavi attack, back-to-back tips from Maliwanag, and a combined block from Samuel Hopkins and Korooshavi to close out the set.
"Sinabi ko sa mga bata na ang mindset namin is to win the match para kahit papaano, yung kumpiyansa namin tumaas. Kaya lang, unpredictable pa rin yung mga games kasi ang dami pa eh," said FEU-D head coach Rene Dulay. "Very thankful kami kasi nag-step up 'yung second group. So we're hoping, and 'yung mindset namin [is] to win more matches."
Now with a deeper rotation and an opening-day win over the defending champions under their belt, FEU-D has given itself an early boost in a tournament Dulay expects to remain wide open.
Maliwanag topped the Baby Tamaraws with 19 points, with 15 coming off attacks and four from blocks, along with six excellent digs. Korooshavi was right behind with nine points, including eight attacks in the 67-minute match.
Karch Carolino ran the offense with 17 excellent sets, while Samuel Coronel anchored their defense with 14 excellent receptions on 17 attempts.
UE's Jack Parde put up a team-high eight points, seven of them off attacks along with an ace in the defeat.
Later, University of Santo Tomas survived a back-and-forth five-set battle against last season's first runners-up National University-Nazareth School, 25-22, 17-25, 25-17, 27-29, 18-16, to open its Season 89 campaign on a high note.
The UST Junior Golden Spikers in their game against NU-Nazareth School in the UAAP Season 89 boys' volleyball tournament, September 19, 2026 at the Paco Arena in Manila. UAAP Media
With Season 88 MVP Rainier Lorayes among its key departures, UST leaned on returning second Best Outside Spiker Karl Escobal as the two sides battled through a tight fifth set.
Ronnie Milan put NUNS at match point with a kill, only for Escobal to answer with one of his own and force a 14-all deadlock. The two sides traded points again until Al Raquib Dais and Bernard Capuno exchanged attacks to level the score at 16-all. Dais then sent his next attempt wide, handing the Junior Golden Spikers match point before Ivo Bucaya finished the match with an ace.
"Syempre eager kami manalo ngayong [season] kasi 'yung nawala samin last year na, sinabi ko nga sa mga bata na sila 'yung team na nagpawala sa atin sa finals. Sana ma-recover namin 'yun, tanggalin 'yung fear sa kanila. Dapat tuloy-tuloy 'yung galaw natin na maayos," said UST head coach Clarence Esteban.
"Mas tight kami ngayon pero syempre na-instill na sa kanila [like] last year sina Karla [Escobal], mga baguhan natin 'yan. This year kasi, na-instill na namin sa kanila 'yung mga system na gusto namin mangyari, kung ano 'yung mga dapat nila gagawin so mas ready kami ngayon compared to last year," he added.
The Junior Golden Spikers drew 21-point performances from Escobal and Capuno, as Escobal finished with 18 attacks and three blocks and Capuno produced 18 attacks, two blocks, and an ace. Escobal further contributed 26 excellent receptions on 34 attempts in a match that lasted two hours and four minutes.
Chester Esteban orchestrated the offense with 31 excellent sets, while Carl Detoyato anchored the defensive effort with 10 excellent digs and 14 excellent receptions on 22 attempts.
Millan and Dais led NUNS' scoring effort in the loss with 19 and 16 points, respectively.