THE ATENEO-MOTOLITE Lady Eagles were defeated by the Petrogazz Angels (PGZ) in four sets, 25-19, 21-25, 21-25, 23-25 in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Open Conference on Saturday, November 17 at Filoil Flying V Centre, San Juan City.
Ateneo’s lineup was composed of the usual starters with Team Captain Bea de Leon leading the team alongside, Vanie Gandler, Deanna Wong, Maddie Madayag, Kat Tolentino, Ponggay Gaston, and Dani Ravena.
The Lady Eagles were steady at the beginning of the match despite multiple nail-biting exchanges with the Angels. Ateneo entered the first Technical Timeout (TTO) with a one-point lead over PGZ, 8-7. The Blue and White built momentum late in the first set as Wong sent them into the second TTO with a five-point lead off her 1-2 play.
[1st set]
Wong with the 1-2 play to send the Lady Eagles into the second TTO with a five point advantage over the Angels!
Ateneo 16 PGZ 11#PVL pic.twitter.com/nGF6VUckh9
— Ally Crespo (@Ally_TheGUIDON) November 17, 2018
Although the Lady Eagles struggled to close the first set out due to a few attack errors, Samonte sealed the victory, scoring off the block after coming in for Gandler.
[1st set]
Samonte scores off the block of Petrogazz and gives Ateneo the first set victory!
Ateneo 25 PGZ 19 #PVL pic.twitter.com/fZpAdy0W7T
— Ally Crespo (@Ally_TheGUIDON) November 17, 2018
The second set started in similar fashion with both teams trading blows until the Angels managed to pull a 6-0 run over the Lady Eagles at 7-11. The Lady Eagles answered with a 5-0 run midway through the second set which allowed them to enter the second TTO with a one-point advantage over PGZ, 16-15.
Miscommunication plagued Ateneo as the Angels went on a 4-0 run. De Leon momentarily stopped the bleeding for her squad as she shut the door on PGZ’s attack, 17-20. The Ateneo captain then scored another attack point as she tried to sway momentum in favor of Ateneo, but the Angels were unfazed. PGZ closed out the second set, 21-25, after a quick attack from Nunag.
[2nd set]
A quick kill from PGZ ends the second set. The match is now tied to one set apiece.
Ateneo 21 PGZ 25#PVL
— Ally Crespo (@Ally_TheGUIDON) November 17, 2018
Petrogazz continued their charge against the Lady Eagles, forcing Ateneo Coach Oliver Almadro to call a timeout early on in the third set, 8-12. Ateneo continued to play catch-up with the Angels as the third set went on. Despite cutting the lead down to three late in the set (20-23), the deficit proved too much for the Lady Eagles as they surrendered the third set win to PGZ, 21-25.
[3rd set]
Raagas is denied at the net. PGZ now leads the Lady Eagles by two sets.
Ateneo 21 PGZ 25#PVL pic.twitter.com/DzJ8NeAs6P
— Ally Crespo (@Ally_TheGUIDON) November 17, 2018
An early 3-0 run by the Lady Eagles gave Ateneo the advantage at the first TTO, 8-7. Ateneo continued their stellar offensive and defensive display after the timeout, scoring off of spikes and blocks to earn themselves another 3-0 run right before the second TTO, 16-10. Despite their best efforts to contain their own errors, miscommunication once again handicapped Ateneo as they gave the Angels a 7-0. The Angels put the match to bed with a 3-0 run, 23-25.
[4th set]
The Lady Eagles surrender the fourth set and the match to the Angels after PGZ went on a 3-0 run to end the game.
Ateneo 23 PGZ 25#PVL pic.twitter.com/zdCzuXQXpB
— Ally Crespo (@Ally_TheGUIDON) November 17, 2018
Despite the loss, the Ateneo-Motolite Lady Eagles are still assured a semi-finals berth alongside the Creamline Cool Smashers and the BanKo Perlas Spikers. The Lady Eagles will have to wait for the remaining matches of Pocari Sweat Air Force, Petrogazz Angels, and Tacloban Fighting Warays before the final four is decided.
Set Scores
Ateneo- PGZ: 25-19, 21-25, 21-25, 23-25
