Prior to Season 77, the Ateneo Men’s Volleyball Team (AMVT) had never bagged a championship. In fact, before Season 76’s runner-up finish, the team was considered as the league’s cellar dwellers. However, things took a complete turn after the spiker-setter combination of Marck Espejo and Ish Polvorosa put the Blue Eagles on the map.
With the duo finding their footing in the UAAP, Season 77 proved to be a redemption season for the Blue and White. Despite dropping two of their first three games, the Blue Eagles found their groove and finished with an 11-3 elimination round record. “Siguro yung biggest factor was nag-stick talaga kami sa system, at lahat committed makabawi (Maybe the biggest factor for that achievement was that we stuck to the system, and everyone was committed to recoup),” recalled Espejo.
In the Final Four, the Blue Eagles dispatched Adamson in four sets to reach the finals once again. However, unlike the previous season, Ateneo’s championship aspiration was finally realized. Behind a stellar performance from eventual Finals MVP Polvorosa, the Blue Eagles rewrote Season 76’s script and denied NU their three-peat bid via a 2-0 sweep in the finals.
After winning their first championship, Ateneo announced to the collegiate men’s volleyball scene that they were no longer the UAAP’s cellar dwellers. “After mag-champion nung Season 77, naging mindset namin [na] kaya pala talaga namin manalo (After we became champions in Season 77, we had the mindset that we can win),” said Espejo.
In their bid to defend the crown, the Blue Eagles improved to a 13-1 elimination round record the following season. As Ateneo marched their way to the finals, they once again tamed NU in their third consecutive finals meeting, 2-0. This sealed the Blue and White’s to successfully capture back-to-back titles. Polvorosa grabbed his third consecutive best setter trophy while Espejo added a best server award to his season MVP and best attacker awards.
Come Season 79, the AMVT established themselves as perennial title contenders. Despite losing Season 78 Finals MVP Ysay Marasigan to graduation, the Blue Eagles maintained their championship form and dominated the elimination rounds with a perfect 14-0 sweep. Polvorosa and Espejo added the usual hardware as they both bagged their fourth consecutive best setter and MVP awards respectively.
For the fourth consecutive season, the Blue Eagles clashed with NU in the finals. As the familiar rivals duked it out, Ateneo clawed their way through two grueling five-set matches to win the series, 2-0. The championship capped-off Ateneo’s historic three-peat and an immaculate win-streak of 30 matches dating back to season 78.
“After mag-champion nung Season 77, naging mindset namin [na] kaya pala talaga namin manalo.”
Five-time UAAP MVP Marck Espejo
Espejo and Polvorosa, who both arrived in Katipunan in Season 76, won every MVP and Best Setter awards in their playing years together. Looking back, Espejo emphasized Polvorosa’s effect on the team. “Big impact talaga kasi setter siya [Polvorosa]. Siya na rin second coach sa loob ng court. Siya rin nag-guide sa amin pag nawawala kami sa rhythm. (Big impact because he’s a setter [Polvorosa]. He is also the second coach when on the court),” Espejo shared.
Winning individual accolades and championships together, Espejo and Polvorosa transformed the AMVT into a dynasty and established Ateneo Men’s Volleyball’s golden era.
