In a grueling five-set match, the School of Engineering and Architecture (SEA) Tigers lit up the court against the Business and Management (B&M) Vipers, returning the championship to SEA after a six-year-long drought, 3-2.

The first set was a struggle between the two teams as they sought control over the court, but halfway into the second set, the SEA Tigers carved out a 2-3 point cushion that they maintained for a while.

B&M Vipers launched a final, determined rally, culminating in a set point at 23-24; however, B&M Vipers missed a hit, giving the SEA Tigers the first set, 28-26.

Determined to even the match, the B&M Vipers slithered their way into a 9-7 lead after four consecutive points; their offensive pressure left SEA Tigers scrambling with the set finishing 16-24 in favor of the Vipers.

SEA Tigers lead libero Alger Jayar Aunzo fell to cramps in a chaotic rally at 11-19 in the second set, but returned to keep shuffling and clearing loose balls at the start of the third set, which tugged back-and-forth between the two teams until midway through the set.

SEA Tigers broke the set’s tense deadlock at 15-13 and then pulled ahead to take the set at 25-19.

Undeterred by the third set loss, the B&M Vipers jumped to a  3-7 lead in the fourth set, forcing another timeout out of the SEA Tigers and tying the rallies up at 10-10.

Neither team could secure a two-point cushion after 10-all until Zander Tumanday’s service ace sealed the set for the B&M Vipers at 15-13, sending the match into a winner-takes-all 15-point decider.

SEA Tigers’ outside spiker Fritz Garbin pummeled the B&M Vipers’ backline with powerful spikes, while team captain Jairus Jaranilla spearheaded an incredible run of eight consecutive points, leading their team into an astonishing 8-0 lead.

The SEA Tigers’ Jaranilla shared his insight into how his team experienced the pressure of the final set of the match.

“When we switched court, literally one point pa lang ang kalaban namin, and we just really, at that time, nagastruggle na din kami kasi nakulbaan na kami, the pressure of the crowd, the pressure of everyone, and obviously kailangan namin hindi magpadala doon,” he said.

The B&M Vipers, in the face of adversity, launched a late comeback that brought the scoreline back to near-parity at 10-12, but the SEA Tigers responded with three straight points to cement their historic victory and ended their cluster’s six-year championship drought.

Jaranilla lauded the team’s talent and dedication despite academic obligations and time constraints through the hectic schedule of the preceding month.

“Thankfully, I really picked the players that are very competent, willing to participate whenever we are training, and as for the struggles…maybe time constraints, kasi hindi available lahat ng mga players, especially since midterms exams and prelims exams,” he said.

The SEA Tigers emerged as the champions of Men’s Volleyball, beating out the B&M Vipers, who had to settle for silver, while the ACC Griffins claimed bronze.

The match was held at 7F Martin Hall on October 9.