MANILA -- University of the East sent the UAAP Season 86 boys' volleyball Finals to a do-or-die Game 3 after a stunning comeback, Thursday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

The Junior Red Warriors completed a reverse sweep of National University-Nazareth School, 18-25, 17-25, 27-25, 26-24, 15-11, in Game 2. 

With the final frame tied at 10 apiece, UE outside hitter Lance Babon took over as they won five of the next six rallies. Baboon won four of their last five points through smart plays, before captain Jan Macam put the finishing touches on the two-hour, 45-minute battle.

"Ang sabi ko lang sa mga bata, kung niyong may mangyari sa ending ng high school, ito na 'yun. Kailangan nating manalo kasi wala na 'pag natalo kami ngayon. Sa second set, wala kong ginawa kundi aralin lang 'yung laro at i-motivate sila," said head coach Raffy Mosuela.

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The Bullpups had punished UE's defensive lapses in the first two sets, but a key adjustment by Mosuela helped the Junior Warriors stay alive. The coach switched Macam to the left side after NUNS earlier capitalized on his shift as the opposite hitter. 

Down 21-22 at the tail-end of the fourth, Babon and Macam scored two straight kills from combination plays to snag the lead.

Matthew Abut leveled the set but the Bullpups could not get to finish the job. However, Macam did so for UE with back-to-back cross-court bombs sealing the deal and setting up the comeback.

NUNS had won Game 1 in a four-set marathon, 39-37, 26-24, 22-25, 25-21.

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The winner-takes-all Game 3 is on Monday, 1:00 p.m., at the same San Juan venue.