AFTER A dominant fourth set, the Ateneo Blue Eagles defeated the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws, 25-19, 18-25, 25-22, 25-18, on Saturday, April 25, at the FilOil Flying V Centre at San Juan City.
With the victory, the Blue Eagles make it into the finals of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 80 Men’s Volleyball tournament for the fifth straight year.
Marck Espejo led the team in scoring yet again with a tally of 37 points (34 spikes, 3 blocks). Libero Manuel Sumanguid impressed in defense, racking up 25 excellent receptions and 19 excellent digs. Ish Polvorosa averaged 10 excellent sets per set, which allowed Ateneo to spike at a 40% success rate.
Ateneo vs FEU stat sheet.
Espejo 37 points
Polvorosa 40 excellent sets
Sumanguid 19 excellent digs and 25 excellent receives pic.twitter.com/YytkvqLdSh— Apa D. Aquino (@Apa_TheGUIDON) April 25, 2018
Ateneo Head Coach Oliver Almadro started Karl Baysa, Espejo, Polvorosa, Ron Medalla, Gian Glorioso, Chu Njigha, and Sumanguid at libero. Service specialists Jobok Morado and Pau Trinidad were used throughout the match while John Rivera replaced Baysa in the fourth set.
The first set was a close battle, but a kill off the block by Medalla to end a long rally gave Ateneo the lead at the first technical timeout (TTO), 8-6. A strong running spike by Glorioso pushed the lead to three heading into the second TTO, 16-13. The Blue Eagles were continuously capitalizing on FEU’s errors while effectively employing their offensive game plan. An attack error by FEU’s RJ Paler gave Ateneo the first set, 25-19.
[1st set] Ateneo takes the first set after FEU’s attack lands outside!
Ateneo 25 FEU 19#UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/AzM2ih14XA
— Apa D. Aquino (@Apa_TheGUIDON) April 25, 2018
Espejo was on fire in the second set, scoring half of Ateneo’s points at the first TTO, 8-6. The Tamaraws were able to turn things around with their blocking to halt Ateneo’s onslaught and take the two-point lead heading into the second TTO with a block on Baysa, 14-16. The Tamaraws continued to shut down the Blue Eagles and took the second set with a 5-0 run towards the end, 25-18.
[2nd set] Quiel’s quick gives the set to FEU! The match is tied at one set per team.
Ateneo 18 FEU 25#UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/NYJoLcilmQ
— Apa D. Aquino (@Apa_TheGUIDON) April 25, 2018
Espejo once again poured in the attacks early in the third set racking up four points. However, his hot streak ended when he was denied by Paler to head into the first TTO down, 7-8. The Blue Eagles were able to make amends thanks to some timely errors by FEU at the second TTO, 16-13. The Tamaraws mounted a comeback with an Ateneo attack error tying the score, 18-18. Espejo then went on to score six of Ateneo’s last seven points to take the set, 25-22.
[3rd set] Baysa’s spike goes through the block and he gets set point for Ateneo! Ateneo leads the match two sets to FEU’s one!
Ateneo 25 FEU 22#UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/1hKhoOUetC
— Apa D. Aquino (@Apa_TheGUIDON) April 25, 2018
Glorioso was the main man to start the fourth set, notching two kill blocks by the first TTO, 8-6. Espejo continued to dominate as his kill off the block extended the lead to six, 16-10. A 7-1 Ateneo run late in the set widened the deficit to 10, 23-13. FEU was able to go on a run, but this proved too late as a service error by Jude Garcia ended the set and the match, 25-18.
[4th set] AND WE’RE GOING TO THE FINALS! Garcia overcooks a serve and Ateneo takes the game in four sets!
Ateneo 25 FEU 18#UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/O2KuZ8iePK
— Apa D. Aquino (@Apa_TheGUIDON) April 25, 2018
“The harder the battle, the sweeter the victory,” commented Almadro after the game as his team needed to defeat a strong FEU team twice to take a spot in the finals.
The Blue and White will be entering the finals as underdogs against the National University (NU) Bulldogs who defeated Ateneo in their last match of the elimination round to claim the first seed.
Ateneo will face NU at 12nn on Saturday, April 27 at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City for the first game of the best-of-three finals series.
Set Scores
Ateneo-FEU: 25-19, 18-25, 25-22, 25-18
Box Scores
Ateneo: Espejo – 37, Medalla – 9, Baysa – 8, Njigha – 7, Glorioso – 5, Polvorosa – 1
FEU: Paler – 14, Garcia – 11, Bugaoan – 10, Solis – 9, Quiel – 9, Bautista – 3, Suarez – 1, Marmeto – 1
