In line with the return of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Men’s Volleyball Tournament, this weekly series will analyze the state of the Ateneo Blue Eagles as they look to land a spot in this season’s Final Four.

THE BLUE Eagles power through two crucial games to remain a Final Four contender  and situate themselves in the UAAP Season 85 Men’s Volleyball rankings at third place with a 7-6 win-loss standing. However, the Blue Eagles currently share the position with two other teams, intensifying the race to the Final Four.

The Ateneo Men’s Volleyball Team (AMVT) claimed a five-set victory over the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraw Spikers last April 19 to bounce back from two consecutive losses, tying with the Tamaraws at third seed. The Blue Eagles secured an emphatic five-set win over rivals, the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Spikers last April 23, preventing DLSU from automatically securing a spot in the Final Four. Ateneo is in a three-way tie with FEU and DLSU, as all three teams await the outcome of their last games in the second round to determine the Final Four roster. 

The Blue Eagles now brace themselves for the unstoppable National University who currently holds a perfect 13-0 record, aiming to complete a sweep to keep the stepladder format.

1. Build the barricade, outlast the opponent

Matthea: 

In the first installment of this season’s Weekly Takeaways, we stressed the importance of maximizing all attackers for a more massive offense range. Just recently defeating the FEU Tamaraw Spikers, the Blue Eagles pulled off exactly that feat by grace of veteran setter Egie Magadia. The veteran’s skillful ball distribution and ability to read through openings in the opposing team are what drove Ateneo through FEU’s strategy. Emerging as the player of the game, Magadia led the Katipunan-based powerhouse to victory through fast-paced passes and 21 meticulously-launched excellent sets. 

With the seasoned setter commandeering the plays, Ateneo developed an advantage on the attack front such that points from scoring skills were earned from a variety of offensive hits. When all players were utilized to the best of their ability, the team sustained this edge by consistently activating its middle blockers. Simultaneously acting as the first line of defense at the net, Ateneo’s middle blockers were pivotal double-duty hitters of fast-tempo sets from the middle. This allowed the team to recover from deficits and, ultimately, best two of its tougher tier contenders for the Final Four. 

Surveilling the net and firing down crucial kills to slow the opponent, Chad Absin stood out as an effective counterbalance to FEU’s dynamic attack system. Making sharp blocks up the net and shocking the opposition with unanticipated kills, Absin closed off any probable openings in the Blue Eagles’ barricade and prevented the Tamaraws from advancing in tight plays. Absin’s better ability to both shut down and send the ball deep into the opponent’s court is what makes his presence as Ateneo’s sharp net shooter respected. Hand-in-hand with Magadia’s tactical expertise, the 6 ‘3 tall rookie’s improved performance catapults the Blue Eagles’ defense and expands the team’s attacking angles. Should Ateneo continue this unpredictable display of offensive front, the Blue Eagles will pose an immense threat to their last adversary in the second round, the NU Bulldogs.

Adding to the team’s deceptive attack front, Outside Hitter Amil Pacinio also served as a spark plug for his team in the latter half of the match. The left-handed spiker’s high-speed hits compiled vital attack points in the most crucial portions of a game, successfully claiming momentum for Katipunan in the 3rd set. In the most recent edition of weekly takeaways, we discussed how Ateneo needs to figure out which set of attackers to utilize according to what the game calls for. During their five-set matchup against FEU, Pacinio was just the right choice to rally more kills against the Tamaraws’ floor defenders. 

The Blue Eagles possess a balance of youngblood and seasoned players, which contributes to their competitive advantage. If the team continues to maximize this dynamic, it can be assumed that Ateneo will continue to show improved performance and set forth a formidable challenge, especially to the juggernaut NU Bulldogs. 

2. Soaring through stormy skies 

Caitlin: 

Last Sunday, spectators at the Mall of Asia Arena witnessed a heated crossfire between two UAAP archrivals. With the Taft-based squad hungry to secure a Final Four slot, and the men from Katipunan looking to keep themselves in the race, it was a much-needed win for both teams. In a tightly contested face-off, the Blue Eagles vehemently displayed grit, tenacity, synergy and most importantly, growth, to go home triumphant and redeem the first-round sweep against them. 

What makes the Green Spikers a formidable opponent is the presence of all-around ammunition. DLSU houses veterans John Roquillio and Noel Kampton who are the 4th and 5th best scorer in the league, respectively, and they have Menard Guerrero and Paul Serrano, the 2nd best digger and the 3rd best setter, respectively. This well-rounded line up translates into court consistency, and a weak blocking system and predictable attack patterns from Ateneo is what allowed them to claim the first set. 

When up against teams that hold league stars such as FEU’s Calado and DLSU’s Kampton and Ronquillo, one strength that the Blue Eagles possessed to contain these players is their display of defensive composure. A huge improvement compared to the first round, all six players stayed steady on the floor in Set 2 despite loaded missiles coming from Kampton. Good presence of mind at the floor led by Team Captain Lance De Castro was complimented by impressive net defense, and Ken Batas’ clean hit signaled the start of a vital series of points. 

Combined efforts from both the middles and pin hitters bolstered a 13-2 point run,  allowing the Blue Eagles to find the offensive momentum and confidence they needed for the entire game, and this was successfully sustained in the next two sets. Batas provided excellent firepower from the wings all throughout the match that culminated in his heroic performance in Set 5 to secure the win for Ateneo. In the first edition of weekly takeaways for this season, I talked about the need to balance court intensity and composure, and they showcased exactly that in this match-up. Despite anxious errors in reception in the last set, the Blue Eagles did not succumb to the pressure and quickly made up for it with strong kills. 

This tactical conversion of defensive composure to attacking aggressiveness is what will allow Coach Timmy Sto. Tomas’ squad to stand firm against the defending champions. More than this however, Ateneo will have to devise clever plays to outsmart the Bulldogs. The statistics show that NU is the best blocking, spiking, and receiving team, but the past 2 games have proven that the boys in blue can adjust according to the specific opponent’s movement on the court. Although a daunting feat, their victories against DLSU and FEU have been a testament to their collected growth and improvement as a team—this might just be what challenges the Bulldogs’ perfect streak.

 If the Blue Eagles can combine their strengths to empower one another on the court, perhaps an interesting match is in store for this weekend. For De Castro and the team, their hopes for a Final Floor slot won’t be extinguished till the final point is called. “We’ll fight with our blood, sweat, and tears and be laser-focused to get a win on Saturday.”

This week’s games: 

Saturday, April 29, 9:00 AM vs National University Bulldogs at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in the City of San Juan.