THE ATENEO Blue Eagles continue their University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 85 campaign with a victory against the Adamson University (AdU) Soaring Falcons, 25-15, 25-23, 25-13. The match was held earlier today at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City, 

Today’s win now gives the Blue and White a 2-3 win-loss standing in the tournament as they sit at sixth place. 

It was a series of errors from both sides to start Set 1, until Egie Magadia’s set to Jett Gopio for a quick attack began the offensive run for Ateneo, 4-2. The Soaring Falcons eventually tied the score at 6-6, but Ateneo’s Jian Salarzon unloaded a kill to put his team in the lead. Following the first technical timeout, the Blue Eagles played at their optimal level to create an eight-point lead at 19-11. AdU’s following points were obtained from Ateneo’s errors but the Blue Eagle attackers easily finished the set at 25-15.

The Soaring Falcons increased their intensity on court as they opened Set 2 with a regalo, taking advantage of the overpass by Ateneo. AdU delivered on the attacking lines by going for off-the-block hits and drop balls to create a two point lead, 7-9. The set was in constant deadlocks at 16-16, until Abai Llenos started a mini-run for the Blue Eagles with an emphatic kill followed by a kill block, 18-16. The Soaring Falcons managed to tie the game again at 22-22, but a series of attack errors from AdU extinguished their chances to take the set, 25-23. 

Determined to finish the match, Ken Batas’s hefty cross-court kills and Gopio’s superb blocking cemented a lead for Ateneo at 9-5. Despite lapses in coverage following the first technical timeout, Ateneo attackers kept the Falcons at bay, 18-9. Batas continued to lead the Blue Eagles with consistent kills, while Salarzon contributed with a cut shot to rattle Adamson defenders, 23-10. Rookie Lutrelle Taneo was granted his first minutes on the court and he responded accordingly by bringing his team to match point with a kill through the block 24-10. Salarzon then took the match with an off-the-block hit, securing Ateneo’s second win of the season at 25-13.

The Blue Eagles look to continue their good form as they face the University of Santo Tomas Golden Spikers, on Wednesday, March 15, at 5:00 PM at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in the City of San Juan.

Set Scores: 

25-15, 25-23, 25-13

Box Scores:

Ateneo: Salarzon – 13, Batas – 12, Llenos -10, Gopio – 9, Absin – 5, Taneo 1

AdU: Novillo – 9, Gay – 6, Magalaman – 5, Casas- 5, Gutierrez – 2, Aguilar -2, Coguimbal – 1