THE ATENEO-Motolite Lady Eagles defeated the PetroGazz Angels (PGZ) in a five-set thriller, 25-21, 17-25, 19-25, 25-14, 15-7, during their second game in the 2018 Premier Volleyball League. The match took place on Saturday, October 6 at the Filoil Flying V Center, San Juan City.  

The Blue and White’s starting six was  composed of Team Captain Bea de Leon, Maddie Madayag, Kat Tolentino, Deanna Wong, Kim Gequilliana, and Vanie Gandler. Dani Ravena manned the defense in Ateneo-Motolite’s second consecutive win.

1st set

The Lady Eagles struggled with their point conversion from defense to attack early on in the first set as the Angels pulled off a stunning 6-0 run. Kat Tolentino’s attack went out, sending PGZ into the first technical timeout (TTO) at 8-2. Vanie Gandler tied the game 14-all from a down the line kill as Ateneo went into the second TTO with a one-point lead, 16-15, due to an overreaching violation at the net. Despite faltering early on, the veterans carried the team to a first set victory, 25-21.

[1st set] Ateneo closes out the first set!

Ateneo 25 PGZ 21#PVL

— Ally Crespo (@Ally_TheGUIDON) October 6, 2018

2nd set

The Angels responded quickly, attacking aggressively and earning the first two points of the second set. Gandler attempted to postpone the Angels’ entry into the first TTO, but Ravena was unable to keep the ball in play, leading to a 4-8 deficit which increased to five by the second TTO, 16-11. Ateneo could not keep up with PGZ’s attacks throughout the latter half of the second set. The Blue and White experienced the largest point deficit of seven points as Raagas, fresh from beach volleyball, was denied at the net, 15-22. Layug finished the second set for the Angels with a service ace at 17-25 to tie the match.  

[2nd set] Layug finishes the second set with a service ace! Both teams are now tied at one set a piece.

Ateneo 17 PGZ 25#PVL pic.twitter.com/ltyRSnySZa

— Ally Crespo (@Ally_TheGUIDON) October 6, 2018

3rd set

The Angels maintained their momentum from the second set by denying Gequilliana’s attempt at the net. The Lady Eagles fought back as rookie Gandler tied the game at 5-all with a beautiful ace. PGZ answered back with a 3-0 run going into the first TTO off of an attack error from Kat Tolentino. Ateneo kept up with PGZ but a 6-0 run sent the Angels flying into the second TTO at 10-16. Maraguinot and Madayag connected in the middle to spark a run for the Blue and White as they answered back to PGZ’s point spree, 14-17. The Angels hustled to pass the run by the Lady Eagles and closed out the third set, 19-25, with a running spike from Austero.

[3rd set] Gequilliana is denied at the net!

Ateneo 0 PGZ 1#PVL pic.twitter.com/wmjcKeDJx3

— Ally Crespo (@Ally_TheGUIDON) October 6, 2018

4th set

The Ateneo-Motolite Lady Eagles attempted to recover in the fourth, beginning with a kill from Tolentino. Ateneo broke into the first TTO with a three-point lead at 8-5. The Lady Eagles soared as their plays picked up speed and became more fluid. They capitalized on their best asset: their offensive variety.

Wong’s point distribution played a huge role in the latter half of the fourth set as all her five spikers had touches on the ball. With this, errors began to eat away at PGZ’s output of points. With the Lady Eagles ahead in the 18-12 mark, BDL began a block fest alongside Tolentino as the twin towers secured back-to-back points for Ateneo from the net. Gandler joined in and made a great wall as The Lady Eagles led, 21-13. Jaja Maraguinot proved herself as a lethal weapon, with an ace at the service deck that claimed the fourth set for Ateneo, 25-14.

[4th set] Jaja Maraguinot with an ace! We’re headed into a game deciding 5th set!

Ateneo 25 PGZ 14#PVL

— Ally Crespo (@Ally_TheGUIDON) October 6, 2018

5th set

With intensity and momentum on their side this time, the Lady Eagles’ points started with markers from Tolentino. Wong’s decision making was made easier for her as Gandler scored a powerful crosscourt spike at 7-3. The veterans flexed their chemistry on the floor, with Wong finding Tolentino hiding behind Madayag who faked a spike approach. Madayag pulled two blockers away, allowing Kat to hammer down the middle to shock the floor defense of the Angels.

This gave the Lady Eagles a crucial four point advantage, 8-4, over the Angels midway through a short fifth set. Tolentino was unstoppable and hungry for the win as she went down the line for another kill as Ateneo doubled the score of PetroGazz at 12-6. Not to be outdone, Team Captain de Leon finished the game and secured the win for her team with a sharp service ace at 15-7.

[5th set] Team Captain Bea de Leon finishes the match for her team with a service ace!

Ateneo 15 PGZ 7 #PVL pic.twitter.com/nT0utKvym7

— Ally Crespo (@Ally_TheGUIDON) October 6, 2018

In his post game interview, Coach Oliver Almadro talked about the girls’ back-to-back matches during the weekend and he admitted that they requested for the heavy game schedule. “Everyday is a learning day,” he said. “This [experience] is our learning time.”

He assured everyone that the Lady Eagles are ready for battle physically and mentally.

Set Scores

25-21, 17-25, 19-25, 25-14, 15-7