AFTER NEARLY conceding the second set, the Ateneo Blue Eagles triumphed over the Adamson University (AdU) Soaring Falcons in straight sets, 25-19, 26-24, 25-22, on Wednesday, March 14, at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
The Blue Eagles extend their winning streak to eight and improve to an 8-1 win-loss record in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 80 Men’s Volleyball tournament.
Marck Espejo once again led the team in scoring with 24 points off 16 spikes, four blocks, and three aces. Ron Medalla tallied the most spike attempts with 30 of his own and scored a total of 15 points. The Soaring Falcons were able to minimize their errors, managing to concede just 13 points.
Ateneo Head Coach Oliver Almadro started Karl Baysa, Espejo, Ish Polvorosa, Medalla, Gian Glorioso, Chu Njigha, and Manuel Sumanguid at libero. Service specialists Jobok Morado and Pau Trinidad were used throughout the match, while John Rivera replaced Medalla in the second set.
The first set was largely a back and forth affair. Ateneo eventually pulled away, but Adamson closed the gap with a 4-0 scoring run that forced a timeout at 18-17. The Blue Eagles answered back by scoring five consecutive points, highlighted by consecutive blocks from Njigha to make it a 23-17 game. Medalla’s powerful spike off the block concluded the first set, 25-19.
[1st set] Medalla’s kill gives Ateneo the set!
Ateneo 25 AdU 19#UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/P83Go89vT8
— Apa D. Aquino (@Apa_TheGUIDON) March 14, 2018
The second set was a similar story, as Ateneo slowly built up a four-point lead, courtesy of a block by Njigha, which brought the score to 21-17. The Soaring Falcons retaliated with a 7-2 scoring run that put them just one point away from stealing the second set, 23-24, but a 3-0 run off a timeout allowed the defending champions to take the two set lead, 26-24.
[2nd set] Medalla lands a beautiful ace to take the set!
Ateneo 26 AdU 24#UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/HRBqZKQn99
— Apa D. Aquino (@Apa_TheGUIDON) March 14, 2018
An early run by the Soaring Falcons put them ahead by four entering the second technical timeout, 4-8. The Katipunan-based squad trailed early on, falling victim to near perfect play from the Adamson side. A late 6-1 run capped off by service aces from Espejo and Njigha gave Ateneo the third set and the match, 25-22.
[3rd set] Njigha’s clutch ace gives Ateneo the match!
Ateneo 25 AdU 22#UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/oq4eXEvAXc
— Apa D. Aquino (@Apa_TheGUIDON) March 14, 2018
The next game for Ateneo will be on Saturday, March 17 against Far Eastern University (FEU) at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
Set Scores
Ateneo-AdU: 25-19, 26-24, 25-22
Box Score
Ateneo: Espejo – 23, Medalla – 15, Baysa – 10, Njigha – 9, Polvorosa – 4, Glorioso – 7,
AdU: Pablico – 18, Yude – 7, Miranda – 5, Bello – 5, Alvarez – 4, Amburgo – 2
