THE ATENEO Blue Eagles went down to last season’s first runner up Far Eastern University (FEU) in three sets, but were able to pull out a win against De La Salle University (DLSU) in straight-sets on Day 2 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Beach Volleyball tournament on Friday, October 6, at SM Sands by the bay.
The team employed the same lineup as before, starting team the duo of Marck Espejo and captain Karl Baysa, with reserve as John Rivera. The Ateneo tandem went up against the FEU duo of Jude Garcia and Richard Solis and the DLSU pair of Cris Dumago and Wayne Marco.
The first set against FEU was riddled with errors by the Blue Eagles. Baysa and Espejo only managed to score two attacks while the Tamaraw duo racked up kill after kill until the Blue Eagles were forced to call a timeout, 4-11. Espejo managed to end the 6-point FEU run, 5-14, and Baysa too scored soon after, 6-15. However, these were the last of Ateneo’s points off attacks as they would eventually concede the first set, 9-21.
The second set told a different story for the Blue and White after lessening their errors and shoring up their attacks to take a narrow 7-6 lead to begin the contest. Combined attacks from Baysa and Espejo combined with multiple errors from FEU then gave Ateneo a 7-point lead, 17-10. The Eagles did not allow FEU to close the gap as Baysa slammed down a loose ball to close the set, 21-15.
FEU saw an early lead in the deciding set, 3-7, due to mistakes made by the Blue and White. Ateneo were able to bring the game back well within reach after a cross-court kill from Baysa, 10-11, and Espejo also helped out to keep the game close, 12-13. Despite the Ateneo pair’s efforts, two straight hits from FEU ended the third set, 12-15.
Looking to end the day on a good note, the Blue Eagles came to dominate the Green Archers in the first set of their late night duel. The Ateneo pair outskilled their opponents with a block from Baysa gave them an 8-point advantage, 13-5. DLSU could not contain the Blue and White barrages, making plenty of errors and receiving miscues, 19-11. Espejo eventually won Ateneo the set with a hard cross-court spike, 21-12.
The second set was a much tighter affair between the two rivals. With both teams making mistakes early, Ateneo called a surprising timeout with the score at 6-6 to calm their nerves. An attack down the middle by Espejo gave a small advantage to the Blue Eagles before the first technical timeout, 11-10.
However, Ateneo could not keep up with DLSU’s kills as the Green Archers took a 3-point lead, 16-19. The Blue Eagles fought their way back with a Baysa spike forcing a deuce, 20-20. Ultimately, a DLSU net touch violation point allowed Ateneo to claim the set, 22-20, and the match in straight sets.
Ateneo Head Coach Oliver Almadro expressed his satisfaction with how his team is adjusting very well to situations given to them against strong teams and in close sets.
“I can see naman na nakaka-adjust naman sila very well (I can see that they’re adjusting very well). A little more aggressiveness and intensity on their part [is] what I guess is lacking, so we really have to maintain [an] intensity and aggressiveness and of course, we really have to be fundamentally sound both offense and defense,” said Almadro.
The next game for the Blue Eagles will be against the defending champions,University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers, on Sunday, October 7 at SM Sands by the Bay.
Set Scores
Ateneo vs FEU: 9-21, 21-15, 12-15
Ateneo vs DLSU: 21-12, 22-20
