THE ATENEO Blue Eagles fell short against the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Spikers, 25-21, 26-28, 21-25, 21-25, to bank another loss in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 85 Men’s Volleyball Tournament.

The loss last March 15 at the FilOil Flying V Arena in the City of San Juan puts Ateneo at a 2-4 win-loss record in the elimination round standings. 

Contributing crucial numbers, Abai Llenos led the Blue and White with 17 points, all from his spikes. Jian Salarzon and Kennedy Batas also jotted down 15 and 10 points, respectively, for the team’s offensive and defensive outputs. 

A ferocious exchange at the court opened the match for both teams, as the Blue Eagles struggled to pike through UST’s guard, 3-3. Despite the opposition’s on-point defense at the net, veteran setter Egie Magadia was quick to outwit the Golden Spiker blockers for four consecutive points, masterfully deceiving UST with sudden tosses to the wings, 8-4. Hanging on to a four-point lead, the powerhouse duo of Batas and Salarzon shot back-to-back kills from Magadia’s projection, 11-7. Although the team incurred several errors to hand easy points to their opponent, Ateneo sustained its momentum past the second technical timeout, 16-11. Taking a patient climb to the top with fleet ball control, the Blue Eagles claimed the first canto, 25-21. 

[Set 1]

The Blue Eagles take set 1 after an off the block point by Batas!

Ateneo 25 UST 21 #UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/H5glx4j9p5

— Caitlin Bernal (@Ayin_TheGUIDON) March 15, 2023

The Blue Eagles started the second canto slow, trailing the Paul Colinares, Rey De Vega, and Josh Ybanez-led UST squad for most of the set. However, the Golden Spikers’ mounted errors, especially from the service line, allowed Ateneo to close in. These were aggravated by Batas and Salarzon’s varied kills that outsmarted their opponents. 

Set 2 was tied at 22-22 with an attack error from UST, which the Blue Eagles took advantage of to run away with a one-point lead from Llenos’ crosscourt spike. The same man in blue unleashed a down-the-line kill, bringing Katipunan to set point, 24-23. While Ateneo tried to match UST’s offense, the latter maintained its footing with De Vega at the wing pounding on the Blue Eagles’ floor. De Vega’s team also converted two-straight points from their solid blocking, which kept their chances alive as the Golden Spikers claimed Set 2, 28-26. 

[Set 2]

Salarzon goes off the block to cut the lead to 1.

Ateneo 20 UST 21#UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/m7hEOqczDP

— Caitlin Bernal (@Ayin_TheGUIDON) March 15, 2023

The Blue Eagles were no match for España’s improved creativity at the start of the third set, as Ateneo fell short of two blocks and a service ace, 0-3. While the Golden Spikers clawed past the first technical timeout with an entire turnaround of scores from those of the first set, Ateneo briskly balanced their court command. With Salarzon at the service line for five points, the Blue Eagles raced to tie the score with cross-court slams, 9-9. However, back-and-forth rallies were dominated by UST, as the Growling Tigers cut through all available openings in the Blue and White’s back row to clinch a  17-20 lead. Ateneo’s offense continued to struggle through UST’s unshakeable fortress, and dropped the third canto at 21-25. 

[Set 3]

UST wins the rally with a speedy pipe attack!

Ateneo 17 UST 21#UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/qRgPYAG1li

— Caitlin Bernal (@Ayin_TheGUIDON) March 15, 2023

With the Golden Spikers’ consistency in offense, Ateneo continued to stumble early in Set 4 and only scored off their opponents’ persistent errors. The Blue and White only gained momentum after Llenos contributed a crucial kill that tied the game at 8-8, followed by a drop ball that gave them a one-point cushion. The Espana-based squad was unfazed. Despite Absin and De Vega’s subsequent offensive exchange, UST emerged on top and eventually reclaimed the lead, 13-11, after orchestrating a 4-1 run—three points of which coming from Ybanez alone. Even through the Blue Eagles’ impressive attempts to force a do-or-die Set 5, they were not able to contain the Ybanez-De Vega duo, falling short and losing the match, 21-25.   

[Set 4]

Gopio with a speedy running attack!

Ateneo 14 UST 15#UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/81h1ltStD9

— Caitlin Bernal (@Ayin_TheGUIDON) March 15, 2023

Looking for their next win, the Blue and White will go up against the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons on Sunday, March 19, 5:00 PM at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Set Scores:

25-21, 26-28, 21-25, 21-25 

Box Scores:

Ateneo: Llenos – 17, Salarzon – 15, Batas – 10, Gopio – 6, Absin – 6

UST: Ybanez – 31, De Vega – 20, De La Noche – 13, Colinares – 8, Flor – 7, Magpayo – 1, Dedoroy – 1, Yambao – 1