AFTER THREE consecutive championships, five finals appearances, and beating the odds against Far Eastern University (FEU) in the Final Four, the Ateneo Blue Eagles conceded the championship of University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 80 Volleyball tournament to the National University (NU) Bulldogs in an four-set nail-biter, 20-25, 29-31, 25-22, 31-33, in Game 2 of the Finals on Saturday, May 2, at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
With Team Captain Karl Baysa suffering from a sprained ankle, Head Coach Oliver Almadro opened John Rivera in his stead. The rest of the starters were the usual Espejo, Polvorosa, Ron Medalla, Gian Glorioso, Chu Njigha, and Manuel Sumanguid as libero. The two server specialists, Jobok Morado and Pau Trinidad were subbed in for crucial deliveries, with Baysa and Jino Labao gaining quality minutes.
The pressure was on in the first set, as NU sparked an early run led by Bulldog ace Bryan Bagunas. After the first technical timeout (TTO), NU held a 5-8 lead, but a rally from Ateneo and a kill from Espejo narrowed the gap at 14-15. However, NU ultimately came away with the advantage, courtesy of an offensive explosion from captain Francis Saura that allowed the Bulldogs to take the first set, 20-25.
[1st set] Gampong scores off Polvorosa’a block to take set point.
Ateneo 20 NU 25#UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/mYTiZfbhmL
— James Gavina (@James_TheGUIDON) May 2, 2018
The Blue and White remained focused on cracking NU’s defenses in the second set. Spikes from Medalla, Espejo, and Njigha helped the Katipunan-based squad gain a slight 8-7 advantage after the first TTO. Piling up the points again, NU went on a 4-0 run after Bulldog James Natividad slammed in two spikes, capped off by a kill-block from Bagunas that made it a 19-13 game. After some NU attack errors, Espejo stepped up to spearhead an enormous 7-1 run for Ateneo to extend the set. Both teams exchanged attacks to keep the set going, but it was NU’s Madz Gampong who would ultimately snap the deadlock, 31-29.
[2nd set] Gampong gets the block to deny the second set comeback.
Ateneo 29 NU 31#UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/M0ExbromXa
— James Gavina (@James_TheGUIDON) May 2, 2018
Ateneo came alive in the third set with sheer determination, going on an early 3-0 run for an 8-5 advantage at the first TTO. A powerful spike and kill block from Njigha fuelrf another run for the Blue Eagles, but NU refused to be left in the dust. Bagunas’ attacks and Saura’s blocks pushed the set close, but an off-the-block kill from Medalla gabe Ateneo their first set, 25-22.
[3rd set] Off the block kill for Medalla! Blue Eagles take the third set!
Ateneo 25 NU 22#UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/PnBoZ4TwYk
— James Gavina (@James_TheGUIDON) May 2, 2018
Fighting for one more chance, the Blue Eagles showed championship heart in what would be their last set of the season. Despite the efforts of Bulldog Kim Malabunga, whose blocking contributed to NU’s huge early lead (6-11), Glorioso popped into the spotlight, making four kill blocks in Ateneo’s 9-1 explosion for a 17-15 lead. Bagunas and the Bulldogs retaliated with a run of their own, tying the set in crunch time at 23-23. Espejo scored the next point with a spike through a triple-block, but his service in the next play went straight to the net, extending the fourth set.
With everything on the line, Sumanguid played the hero in the extended fourth set, digging NU’s attacks whenever they threatened a kill, with Espejo keeping the Blue Eagles alive five times against NU’s set advantage. Forcing the match to an extreme 30-point game, Ateneo would tragically give the deciding set to NU after a heated battle ended 31-33.
[4th set] That’s it! An attack error concedes match point. Congratulations to the NU Bulldogs.
Ateneo 31 NU 33#UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/nwospBBmvI
— James Gavina (@James_TheGUIDON) May 2, 2018
Five-time Most Valuable Player (MVP) Marck Espejo, Five-time Best Setter Ish Polvorosa, and Blue Eagle Team Captain Karl Baysa ended their Ateneo volleyball careers decorated in silver after a strong Season 80 campaign.
With outstanding leadership from the seniors, all-out energy from all the players, and brilliant performances from the rookies, Coach Almadro felt nothing but love and pride for the Blue Eagle squad after it all ended. “We played our hearts out. I’m proud of my players, they really did their best.”
“We played our hearts out. I’m proud of my players, they really did their best.” – Coach Oliver Almadro on his thoughts on the match. pic.twitter.com/ilm3pQF58y
— James Gavina (@James_TheGUIDON) May 2, 2018
Espejo garnered the most accolades in the tournament, adding his fifth MVP, his fourth Best Attacker, his second Best Scorer, and his second Best Server awards. Polvorosa received his fifth Best Setter award, and server specialist Jobok, brother of previous Lady Eagle Team Captain Jia Morado, took home the Rookie of the Year.
Set Scores
Ateneo-NU: 20-25, 29-31, 25-22, 31-33
Box Score
Ateneo: Espejo – 30, Medalla – 16, Glorioso – 10, Rivera – 7, Njigha – 5, Rivera – 3, Labao – 1, Morado – 1, Polvorosa – 1
NU: Bagunas – 22, Natividad – 18, Malabunga – 10, Gampong – 8, Saura – 8, Ismail -3, Dayandante – 3
