FOLLOWING A pair of losses in yesterday’s matches, the Ateneo Blue Eagles returned to Sands at SM By the Bay in Pasay City on Tuesday, September 25, to face off against defending champions National University (NU) Bulldogs in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 81 Men’s Beach Volleyball Tournament. In search of their first win, the promising rookie trio of Abai Llenos, Kurt Aguilar, and Zolo Ligot were outmatched by NU’s power duo of Bryan Bagunas and James Natividad, 12-21, 15-21.

In the early stages of the first set, the Blue Eagles struggled to finish on their attacks and services, giving up nine of the Bulldog’s 11 points on their account. However, Ateneo was able to refocus and stabilize, making up for the errors with a series of tip shots, blocks, and aces from Aguilar that cut the lead down to three heading into the second half of play at 8-11.

However, the Bulldogs answered back with a 4-10 scoring blitz. On top of three additional errors by the Eagles, Bagunas exploded for the opposing team and recorded three spikes, a block, and an ace at the end of the first set. The Blue Eagle duo’s 13th error in the set gifted the NU Bulldogs the first set, 12-21, summing up the Blue Eagles’ first set performance.

The second set began with the two teams exchanging the first eight points for a decisive 4-4 deadlock. Ateneo’s rookies showed resilience and growth from the first set, reducing their mistakes and forcing errors from their veteran counterparts in the early rounds of play.

Bagunas, who was covered by Aguilar for most of the first set, stepped up once again after the back-and-forth affair. Instead of just scoring, though, he began to create plays for teammate Natividad to shake up Ateneo’s defense, splitting the scoring load 2-6 at the half of the second set that left the Eagles trailing 7-11.

At the latter stages of the match, the veterans from the Blue and Gold continued to display their savviness on the sands, attacking with a number of cross-court spikes and deep touch shots in an effort to neutralize the improved defensive movement of Ateneo.

The Blue Eagles’ rookies, though, did not back down from the intensified offense, as they kept pace in an 8-9 scoring affair with the Bulldogs until the end of the match. NU’s early lead, however, saw them through the set after a powerful Natividad spike that ended the game, 15-21.

This loss puts the Blue Eagles at the bottom of the pile with a record of 0-3. The Ateneo Blue Eagles look to continue their hunt for their elusive first win of the season in their next match against the Adamson University Soaring Falcons on Friday, September 28, at the same venue.

Set Scores

Ateneo-NU: 12-21, 15-21