AFTER A commanding performance in the third set, the Ateneo Blue Eagles defeated the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors in straight sets, 25-20, 25-17, 25-15 on Saturday, February 17, at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
The Blue Eagles now hold a win-loss record of 3-1 in the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Volleyball Tournament.
Marck Espejo led the Blue Eagles on offense and defense with 16 points and 12 of 20 excellent receives. Ron Medalla was chosen as the Player of the Game after racking up 10 spikes and one service ace. Manuel Sumanguid contributed efficiently on the defensive end with 8/11 excellent digs and 7/12 excellent receptions. The team had a total of eight blocks, while UE recorded none.
Ateneo Head Coach Oliver Almadro started captain Karl Baysa, Espejo, Ish Polvorosa, Medalla, Gian Glorioso, Chu Njigha, and Sumanguid at libero. John Rivera checked in for Baysa after the captain collided with Medalla in a bid for the loose ball. Jobok Morado was subbed in to serve in the first two sets and managed to net one service ace of his own. Gino Labao and Lawrence Magadia were brought in at the third set when Ateneo held a huge lead, while Basti Cuerva made his first appearance this season in the third set.
The match started off neck and neck with neither team pulling away until the latter half of the first set. With the score at 19-19, the Blue and White gained the upper hand after a 6-1 scoring run led by Espejo’s attacking and blocking, and an eventual attack error from UE gave set point to the Blue Eagles.
Coming into the game, UE was dead last in the league for spiking at 25.68% while Ateneo sat at fourth with 38.11% attacking efficiency. The numbers were apparent in the first set, as UE was only able to connect 10l spikes, while the other half of their points came from errors by Ateneo.
The second set was decided yet again by a late game run. Back-to-back kills from the Katipunan-based squad prompted UE to call a time-0ut at 20-16, leading to the entry of service specialist Morado, who scored with a floater between the net and the attack line. Morado’s serving continued to disrupt the Red Warriors’ offense, forcing three consecutive attack errors. A drop by Medalla finally finished the second set, 25-17.
Ateneo completely dominated the third set, opening with a 15-2 run. With his squad in complete control, Coach Almadro gave his bench extra playing time, resting his usual starters as the game approached the final points.
UE went on a few runs off several attack errors by Ateneo, but several mishaps were not nearly enough to unseat the Blue Eagles. A strong spike down the line by Labao gave the set and the match to the defending champions, 25-15.
“The way we operated our floor defense, it really worked today,” said Polvorosa. He also said that spreading out the offense was a factor in the game.
In preparation for the next match against the 5th ranked Adamson University (AdU), Polvorosa said that “we will not take them lightly.”
The game against the AdU Soaring Falcons will be on February 21, 8:00 AM at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
Set Scores
Ateneo-UE: 25-20, 25-17, 25-15
Box Scores
Ateneo: Espejo – 16, Medalla – 11, Glorioso – 8, Njigha – 6, Baysa – 3, Labao – 3, Rivera – 2, Magadia – 1, Morado – 1, Polvorosa – 1
UE: Inoferio – 8, Adriano – 7, Ortega – 7, Patacsil – 5, Balquiedra – 1, Aljas– 1, Imperial – 1, Alba – 1
