THE ATENEO Blue Eagles prevailed over the third-seeded University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Tigresses in straight sets, 25-23, 25-23, 25-20, earlier today at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena in Pasay City. This victory allows the defending champions to move forward in the Final Four of the UAAP Season 84 Women’s Volleyball Tournament.

With their championship title on the line, the Blue and White needed to win this match in order to secure a chance to face the second-seed De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Spikers. Beyond the contributions of their typical scorers, Ateneo required the full force of the whole block to make it out of the stepladder format’s first round. The emphatic victory marks the third straight do-or-die match won by the Blue Eagles.

Ateneo immediately took control at the start of the first set as setter Jaja Maraguinot activated her squad’s outside and middle hitters, orchestrating a 7-3 lead off a 7-1 run. After a timeout was called by UST’s Coach Kung Fu Reyes, the Golden Tigresses inched closer to the Blue Eagles as an offensive run was led by Camille Victoria’s stronghold of the net and Ysa Jimenez’s off-the-block kills that inhibited the Blue Eagles from translating their plays into points.

As both teams continued to exchange attacks, Golden Tigress Imee Hernandez also stepped up for her team with three consecutive spikes. Despite UST’s efforts to keep their opponents at bay, the Blue Eagles eventually tied the game and delivered a 25-23 finish with Lyann De Guzman’s offensive block.

The Golden Tigresses began the second set with a more aggressive start, forcing Ateneo to trail by four, 4-8. In response to UST, the Blue Eagles maximized their defensive walls and utilized combined efforts from Faith Nisperos and Vanie Gandler to inch closer. Building on their momentum, Ateneo managed to spark a 7-0 run with Nisperos taking flight at the wings and Alexis Miner shutting down UST’s attacks. Trading points with UST at the final stretch of the set, the Blue and White finished the second similar to the first set with a block from second-stringer Jaycel delos Reyes, 25-23.

With their backs against the wall entering the third canto, the Golden Tigresses punched in varied spikes to lead Ateneo at 6-9 despite the Blue and White’s strong start. However, UST was unable to maintain their scoring when the Nisperos-led squad again began pounding on the UST floor, assisted by Erika Raagas’ and Gandler’s power tips that the España-based troop failed to anticipate. The Blue Eagles hauled up points off continuous attacks—the last five coming from outside hitter Nisperos’ heavy hands—to clinch a decisive 25-20 win.

Exhibiting another masterful performance against the Golden Tigresses, Nisperos notched 23 points in 17 attacks, four aces and two blocks. Gandler and Raagas contributed to the sweep as they chalked up 15 and seven points, respectively. As for the Golden Tigresses, Eya Laure and Hernandez marked 15 and 11 points, respectively, with Laure scoring 13 points off attacks.

Following the stepladder format, the Blue Eagles will face the second-seed De La Salle University Lady Spikers at 6:30 PM on Thursday, June 16, at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Set Score:

Ateneo-UST: 25-23, 25-23, 25-20

Box Scores:

Ateneo: Nisperos – 23, Gandler – 15, Raagas – 9, Miner – 7, Narit – 3, de Guzman – 2, delos Reyes – 2, Maraguinot – 1

UST: Laure – 15, Hernandez – 11, Jimenez – 9, Victoria – 7, Galdones – 4, Mangulabnan – 2, Tapia – 2, Galanza – 1