AFTER A tightly contested fourth set, the Ateneo Blue Eagles took the victory in the Battle of Katipunan against the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, 24-26, 25-15, 25-18, 31-29, on Saturday, March 24, at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
The Blue Eagles now hold a 9-2 win-loss record in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 80 Men’s Volleyball tournament.
Reigning Most Valuable Player (MVP) Marck Espejo dominated the competition, tallying 30 points with 58% attack efficiency. Ron Medalla and Chu Njigha scored ten points each, while captain Karl Baysa notched three blocks and four spikes.
Ateneo vs. UP stat sheet.
Espejo: 30 pts, 3 blocks, 2 aces
Polvorosa: 39 excellent sets
Millette: 18 pts, 4 aces#UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/ymNLbSlkIM— Apa D. Aquino (@Apa_TheGUIDON) March 24, 2018
With John Rivera out due to a knee injury, and Gian Glorioso recovering from back spasms, Ateneo head coach Oliver Almadro started Baysa, Espejo, Ish Polvorosa, Medalla, Jasper Tan, Njigha, and Manuel Sumanguid at libero. Service specialists Jobok Morado and Pau Trinidad were also used throughout the match. Glorioso replaced Tan in the first set, while Jino Labao checked in for Medalla in the third.
The Blue Eagles trailed for most of the first set, replying to UP’s scoring runs with runs of their own. Late into the set, Espejo tied the score with a back row kill, 21-21, but a series of Ateneo attack errors put UP at set point, 21-24. The Blue and White answered back with their own 3-0 scoring run, but a net touch violation and block by Fighting Maroon Joshua Castillo on Medalla gave UP the first set, 24-26.
[1st set] Castillo gives UP the first set with a block.
Ateneo 24 UP 26#UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/LGqN82pmCq
— Apa D. Aquino (@Apa_TheGUIDON) March 24, 2018
The Blue and White capitalized on UP’s errors in the second set, sparking an 11-3 scoring run that put Ateneo ahead by seven, 15-8. The Fighting Maroons fell victim to further errors and eventually conceded the set after an off the block kill from Medalla, 25-15.
[2nd set] Medalla ties the match with a kill off the blockers!
Ateneo 25 UP 16#UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/cUHDAjZDay
— Apa D. Aquino (@Apa_TheGUIDON) March 24, 2018
The Blue Eagles again took control in the third set, courtesy of an unanswered 8-1 scoring run that put them ahead by seven, 17-10. A block by Polvorosa eventually took set point, placing Ateneo just one set away from taking the match, 25-18.
[3rd set] Polvorosa’s block gives Ateneo the set!
Ateneo 25 UP 18#UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/PIsGOvuPZf
— Apa D. Aquino (@Apa_TheGUIDON) March 24, 2018
Ateneo slowly built up a lead in the fourth set and were leading by two at 16-14 heading into the second technical. A late 6-2 run by UP put the Fighting Maroons just two points away from forcing a fifth set, 21-23. The Blue Eagles answered back with a 5-1 run of their own, while Espejo’s service ace gave his team the lead, 25-24. Multiple service and attack errors plagued the Blue Eagles and allowed UP to keep the score close, but a cross-court kill from Espejo and a service ace by Medalla gave the Blue Eagles match point, 31-29.
[4th set] Medalla delivers an ace in the clutch to give Ateneo the win!
Ateneo 31 UP 29#UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/V6kzh54gEG
— Apa D. Aquino (@Apa_TheGUIDON) March 24, 2018
Almadro commented that while UP played well especially in the first set, there were instances where his team let up and lost focus. “We really have to practice more consistency and aggressiveness inside the court,” declared the veteran coach.
The next game for Ateneo will be at 8:00 AM on Saturday, April 7 against the University of Santo Tomas (UST) at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Set Scores
Ateneo-UP: 24-26, 25-15, 25-18, 31-29
Box Scores
Ateneo: Espejo – 30, Medalla – 10, Njigha – 10, Baysa – 7, Glorioso – 7, Polvorosa – 5, Tan – 2, Morado – 1
UP: Millete – 18, Consuelo – 12, Miguel – 11, Castillo – 4, San Pascual – 4, Gohoc – 3, Baldelovar – 2
