AFTER AN impressive defensive showcase in the first set, the Ateneo Blue Eagles triumphed over the College of Saint Benilde (CSB) Blazers in straight sets, 25-13, 25-22, 25-22, on Wednesday, September 13, at the FilOil Flying V Center in San Juan City.
The Blue Eagles now hold a record of 4-0 in the inaugural season of the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Men’s Collegiate Conference.
Head coach Oliver Almadro went with his usual starting line-up of Karl Baysa, Chu Njigha, Ish Polvorosa, Marck Espejo, Gian Glorioso, and John Rivera with Manuel Sumanguid at libero.
Espejo led the Blue Eagles as he racked up 17 points with 75% attack efficiency while Rivera notched nine points on 50% attacking efficiency. Sumanguid notched 12 of 14 excellent receives to support Polvorosa’s 30 of 64 excellent sets.
The Blue Eagles dominated the first set, beginning with a seven point lead by the first technical timeout, 8-1. By the second technical timeout, Ateneo led by ten while holding the Blazers to zero offensive points, with CSB’s point only coming from Blue Eagle errors, 16-6. A Polvorosa service ace put the Blue and White to within five points of taking the first set and increasing the lead to 12, 20-8. A one-handed tip by Polvorosa then ended the first set in favor of Ateneo, 25-13.
The Blazers were more competitive in the second set. The teams traded blows until Espejo scored from the back-row heading into the first technical timeout to give his team the lead, 8-7. However, errors from the Katipunan-based squad allowed CSB to take a two-point lead heading into the second technical timeout, 14-16. An attacking error from the Blazers tied the game late into the set, 21-21. Led by Espejo, the blue spikers went on a 4-1 scoring run to take the set, 25-22.
In the third set, Blue Eagles started with a short run again led by Espejo to go up by three, 8-5. The deficit remained the same all the way until the second technical timeout, 16-13. Although the teams went back and forth throughout the set, the Blue Eagles triumphed in the end thanks to a kill-block by Glorioso to take the match, 25-22. Glorioso has taken match point in Ateneo’s last three games through blocks.
“Slow progress is still progress,” commented coach Almadro on his team’s progress, “Every game is a learning day for us.”
For the next game, coach Almadro mentioned he wants his team to work on their teamwork, cohesiveness inside the court, and decision making.
The next game for the Blue Eagles will be on Saturday, September 16, at the FilOil Flying V Center in San Juan City against the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons.
Box Scores
Ateneo: Espejo – 17, Rivera –9, Njigha – 7, Baysa – 6, Glorioso – 6, Polvorosa – 2, Medalla – 1
CSB: Arda – 11, Basilan – 7, Orian – 5, Abrot – 5, San Miguel – 2, Bautista –1
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