Olayemi Raheem leads UP to comeback win over UE

Nigerian standout Olayemi Raheem led the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons to a thrilling come-from-behind victory over the University of the East in the Season 87 Men's Volleyball Tournament opener on Saturday, with UP securing their first win after two hours and 19 minutes.

Raheem scored an impressive 25 points with 24 attacks and one block, igniting a crucial 9-3 rally in the deciding fifth set to lift his team to victory.

UP coach Carlo Cabatingan marked his debut as head coach with this win, highlighting the team's resilience despite being new to such competitive environments.

The Fighting Maroons' strong net defense contributed significantly to their victory, recording 15 blocks compared to UE's eight, while Raheem emphasized focusing on winning before stepping onto the court.

Daniel Nicolas chipped in 14 points and Clarence Santiago tallied 15 excellent sets for UP, who will face Far Eastern University next Saturday.