Far Eastern University needed just one win to advance to the finals of the UAAP Season 80 men’s volleyball tournament, a victory to put the Tamaraws in position to take their 25th title.
The Tamaraws, however, ran into reigning MVP Marck Espejo, who had other plans in mind and showed he’s still the king.
Espejo set a single-game scoring record with 55 points to lead the Blue Eagles in their five-set win over the Tamaraws, 18-25, 25-13, 24-26, 25-23, 15-9, to force a grudge match with the winner advancing to the championship round.
Playing in his final UAAP year, Espejo was hell-bent on leaving college with, possibly, another title to add on his already stacked trophy case.
“I was thinking that this won’t be my last game, I’m thinking to myself that we will still hold practice tomorrow,” said Espejo in Filipino Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena.
“And I just want my last year to be memorable and I offered this game to my teammates that when the time comes that we’ll leave those left behind will carry on the tradition we set.”
Espejo, whose previous career-high was 39 points also against FEU in the second round of Season 80, went ablaze in the fifth set where he scored 11 points alone.
“Marck is a monster,” said Ateneo head coach Oliver Almadro, who joked that Espejo wanted to chase Gyselle Silva’s record of 56 points in the Philippine Superliga.
Espejo added his record isn’t just for himself but for the Blue Eagles, who are still in contention for a fourth straight title.
“All those points aren’t just for me, those are for my teammates also because we will be with each other through hard times and good,” said Espejo.