DESPITE A disappointingly low intensity second set, the Ateneo Blue Eagles were able to defeat the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers in four sets, 25-18, 19-25, 25-17, 25-17, on Wednesday, March 7, at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
With the victory, the Blue Eagles extend their winning streak to seven and improve to a win-loss record of 7-1 in Season 80 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Men’s Volleyball tournament.
Marck Espejo was the game’s top scorer with 22 points and posted a near triple-double with 20 excellent receives and nine excellent digs. Ateneo Captain Karl Baysa scored on half of his 14 spike attempts, notched two service aces, and took one kill block. Setter Ish Polvorosa also posted impressive an 48 excellent sets.
Ateneo Head Coach Oliver Almadro started Baysa, Espejo, Polvorosa, Ron Medalla, Gian Glorioso, Chu Njigha, and Manuel Sumanguid at libero. Service specialists Jobok Morado and Pau Trinidad were used throughout the match while Jino Labao and Jasper Tan also came off the bench. John Rivera replaced Medalla in the second set after the latter showed a dip in performance.
The first set started off closely, but the Blue Eagles were able to pull away by the second technical timeout (TTO) thanks to a kill by Medalla. The play came from a clever set by Espejo who faked a spike before sending the pass to Medalla, 16-10. The Green Archers were unable to close the gap, and a service ace by Tan gave Ateneo the set, 25-18.
[1st set] Tan takes set point with a service ace!
Ateneo 25 DLSU 18#UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/xaeBw0Ms3d
— James Gavina (@James_TheGUIDON) March 7, 2018
The Blue Eagles lacked intensity in the second set, which allowed La Salle to lead by seven at the first TTO, 1-8. The defending champions were able to close the gap by the second TTO, but further Ateneo errors and attacks from Green Archer Raymark Woo ensured the Blue and White would remain behind, 11-16. DLSU’s Arjay Onia finished the set with a spike down the line , 19-25.
[2nd set] Onia goes down the line to take set point.
Ateneo 19 DLSU 25#UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/sXi5vVIVYi
— James Gavina (@James_TheGUIDON) March 7, 2018
An early run by Ateneo compounded by errors from La Salle allowed the Blue and White to lead by eight heading into the first TTO, 16-8. Baysa’s block on Onia put Ateneo just five points away from taking the set, 20-11. The Green Archers attempted a comeback, but Espejo eventually took set point with a strong spike against three blockers, 25-17.
[3rd set] Espejo gets the kill against the triple block to finish the set.
Ateneo 25 DLSU 17#UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/BnBPSNJoRO
— James Gavina (@James_TheGUIDON) March 7, 2018
The fourth set began competitively as neither team was able to build a big lead. A spike by Rivera to the open corner gave Ateneo a small advantage heading into the second TTO, 16-14. A kill off the triple block by Espejo then sparked a run late in the set, 20-17. The defending champions wrapped up the fourth set and the match with a 5-0 scoring run, which ended with an ace by Polvorosa, 25-17.
[4th set] Service ace by Polvorosa! Ateneo takes it in four sets!
Ateneo 25 DLSU 17#UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/2O1k1HrRCh
— James Gavina (@James_TheGUIDON) March 7, 2018
“We started slow in the second set,” explained coach Almadro as DLSU took the momentum early on. In the third set, the veteran head coach told his team, “We just have to put the intensity up.” He also highlighted the importance of staying aggressive and intense all the way.
The next game for Ateneo will be an 8:00 AM match on Wednesday, March 17 against the Adamson Soaring Falcons (2-5) at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
Set Scores
Ateneo-DLSU: 25-18, 19-25, 25-17, 25-17
Box Score
Ateneo: Espejo – 22, Baysa – 10, Njigha – 9, Rivera – 8, Glorioso – 7, Polvorosa – 4, Medalla – 2, Tan – 2, Labao – 1
DLSU: Onia – 15, Woo – 11, Dumago – 10, Reyes – 7, Delos Reyes – 5, Marco – 1
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