THROUGH A good all-around performance, the Ateneo Blue Eagles triumphed over the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers in straight sets, 25-15, 25-20, 25-22, on Saturday, September 23, at the FilOil Flying V Center in San Juan City.
The Blue Eagles currently stand at 6-0 in the inaugural season of the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Men’s Collegiate Conference.
Head Coach Oliver Almadro deployed 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 team in scoring with 16 points for 65% attack efficiency. Glorioso notched three kill blocks to go along with his 11 points, while Polvorosa also garnered three kill blocks and three spikes. The team was able to minimize their errors this game with a season-low 21 conceded points.
Ateneo dominated the first set and led by four entering the first technical timeout, 8-4. The lead widened to 16-11 by the second technical timeout after a kill by Espejo off a combination play that involved Njigha feinting an attack to fool the triple block. The Blue Eagles went on a 9-4 scoring run to take the first set, 25-15.
Good attacks by DLSU and errors from Ateneo allowed the Green Archers to take the early lead in the second set, 6-8. Both teams traded blows, with neither able to pull away by the second technical timeout, 14-16. The Blue Eagles were finally able to tie the score after an Espejo kill block, 17-17. A dump by Polvorosa set up an open spot that gave his team the two-point lead, 19-17. With the momentum on their side, the Blue Eagles went on a 6-3 scoring run to take the set through Baysa’s kill off the lone blocker, 25-20.
The Katipunan-based squad earned the advantage in the third set, but the Green Archers sparked a run after scoring off Njigha’s block, 5-2, then taking a two-point lead at the first technical timeout, 6-8. The Blue and White were able to recover as Espejo tied the game after tipping in a loose ball, 11-11. An off-the-block kill by Espejo extended the gap to three heading into the second technical timeout, 16-13.
A soft lob by Baysa made possible by an excellent dig from Sumanguid pushed the advantage up to four, 19-15. With the match nearing its end, substitute Ron Medalla scored his only point of the contest to bring the game to match point, 24-20. Although DLSU attempted to save the game, Rivera was able to score off a block from a combination play to take the last point of the match, 25-22.
“We still have a lot of adjustments to do,” commented coach Almadro on his team’s progress so far in the PVL. He also mentioned the importance of the team’s cohesiveness on the court in order to avoid lapses.
The next game for the Blue Eagles will be on Saturday, September 30, at the FilOil Flying V Center in San Juan City against the National University (NU) Bulldogs. The last time these teams faced off was in the finals of UAAP Season 79.
Box Scores
Ateneo: Espejo – 16, Glorioso – 11, Baysa – 9, Njigha – 6, Polvorosa – 6, Rivera – 5, Medalla – 1
DLSU: Woo – 8, Onia – 8, Dumago – 7, Delos Reyes – 6, Jose – 3, Bacon –1, Marco – 1, Reyes – 1, Maravilla – 1
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