Sports

Ateneo Blue Eagles emerge as back-to-back champions in the Spikers’ Turf Tournament

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Published September 12, 2016 at 6:28 pm
Photo By Beatrice T. Go

THE ATENEO Blue Eagles defeat their recurring finals rivals, the National University (NU) Bulldogs, in four sets, 25-14, 18-25, 25-20, 25-20 on Monday, September 12, 2016 in Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

The Blue Eagles remained undefeated throughout the Spikers’ Turf tournament with an incredible win-loss record of 9-0. Even with the departure of former team captain Ysay Marasigan, Karl Baysa has stepped up to the position and rookie Tony Koyfman makes his debut in Coach Oliver Almadro’s squad.

After a difficult win against the Bulldogs in the first game of the finals, the Blue Eagles were determined to end the tournament as the champions in the second game of the finals today.

The Blue Eagles drew first blood in the match, with the Phenom Marck Espejo and company smashing a 5-0 run in the set opening. The Bulldogs were plagued with attack errors and service errors, surrendering free points to the Blue Eagles. Espejo led the Blue Eagles with his powerful attacks and serves until Ish Polvorosa makes a service ace for Ateneo to reach the set point (24-14). With Polvorosa’s last serve, Baysa successfully blocks the Bulldogs’ offense.

However, the fate of the Blue Eagles turned the opposite way in the second set as the Bulldogs dominated the whole set. On the part of the Blue and White, the number of errors increased among the usual starting players. Although Polvorosa was able to tie the set at 7-7, NU’s Bryan Bagunas and Madzlan Gampong stepped up in quick offensive plays to increase NU’s lead to five (14-19). With the Blue Eagles’ difficulty in returning the Bulldogs’ attacks and enforcing more errors, National University takes the second set from the Blue Eagles.

The Katipunan-based squad remained hopeful in the match and returned to the third set with more powerful attacks, as reminded by Coach Almadro. Koyfman quickly earned the first point of the set for the Blue Eagles. However, the National University Bulldogs attempt to match the lead of Ateneo, but fails to do so as their errors surrendered the points to the Blue Eagles. On the Blue Eagles’ side, attackers Espejo, Villanueva and Koyfman stepped up with more focused and powerful attacks. Even with Koyfman’s service ace to bring the score to 23-17, the Bulldogs went for a 3-point run to decrease the lead to three. However, with Jann Ancheta’s service error and a service ace from Villanueva, the Blue Eagles extend their match score to 2-1.

The fourth set proved to be the most difficult for both the Blue Eagles and the Bulldogs as a seesaw battle from the beginning until the statlemate (20-20) that ended when Baguinas enforces an attack error and Baysa takes advantage of an incoming attack from NU. Espejo takes the match to the set point and veteran player Rex Intal makes a service ace to take the championship title of the Blue Eagles.

Espejo and Koyfman led the Blue and White to victory with 15 points each, followed by Villanueva with seven points in offensive output. On Ateneo’s defense was Polvorosa making 36 excellent sets and Manuel Sumanguid contributing 13 excellent digs.

Espejo was also named the best open hitter and the tournament’s back-to-back Most Valuable Player. Polvorosa also garnered his second best setter award and Koyfman was awarded the Finals Most Valuable Player of the tournament.

With Baysa’s first leadership stint as the captain of the Blue Eagles resulting to victory, he feels overwhelmed and fulfilled with the performance of his team throughout the Spikers’ Turf. “It was not only me, but the whole team stepped up,” says Baysa. “Hopefully, this will continue in the UAAP.”

Box Scores:

Ateneo: Espejo- 15, Koyfman- 15, Villanueva- 7, Intal- 6, Baysa- 6, Polvorosa- 4

NU: Baguinas- 15, Gampong- 8, Saura- 5, Dayandante- 4, Natividad- 4, Malabunga- 4, Ismail- 4.


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