Opening their 2023 Spikers’ Turf stint, Ateneo Blue Eagles — Fudgee Barr were victorious over error-plagued De La Salle Dasmariñas — Don Pacundo yesterday afternoon at the Paco Arena in the City of Manila.

The first canto saw an influx of service errors from Don Pacundo, handing easy back-to-back points to Fudgee Barr as both teams struggled to maintain a lead, 5-7. Veterans James Licauco and Amil Pacinio produced two service aces to set the momentum for Ateneo, chalking up more points for the Blue Eagles amid the Dasmariñas-based squad’s onset of violations, 13-9. Despite an impressive show of precision attacks by Don Pacundo’s John Robert Alabin, Ateneo’s floor defense was quick to read through both short and far-launched hits from the opposition and converting more points from attack errors, 19-15. Ending the set with relentless down the line smashes, the powerhouse duo of Pacinio and Aimar Okeke sent heavy kills down on La Salle, 25-19.

Despite a timely change in the Blue Eagle lineup in the second set, Ateneo had a slow start after consecutive service errors from its key attackers, 4-5. Outside hitter Jian Salarzon stepped up to produce back-to-back points from opposite attacks and a service ace, 12-8. Unfortunately, the team’s successive in-court miscommunication leveraged Don Pacundo’s small point deficit halfway into the set. Eager to reclaim momentum, the Blue Eagles adapted to tower Don Pacundo’s quick attacks and earned multiple block points, 17-13. Ken Batas shone through the end of the second canto with unretrievable attacks, regaining the upper hand for Ateneo and claiming the set, 25-18. 

Rattled by the Katipunan-based team’s improved net defense, Don Pacundo produced more miscalculated hits and violations, trading more points for Ateneo early on in the final set, 8-5. Non-stop service errors from De La Salle skyrocketed Ateneo’s lead, only to be extended after unpredictable kills from middle blocker Jeric Sendon, 17-12. Firing from the back row, the Blue Eagles closed in on match point, courtesy of Okeke’s precise timing and slams down on Don Pacundo’s blind spots, 23-16. Dasmariñas fell to its own hands after committing more violations to end the game, bowing to Ateneo, 25-20. 

Ready to defend their winning streak, the Blue Eagles are set to face the formidable National University — Santa Elena team on November 5, 2023 in the same venue.

Set Scores: 

Ateneo-DLSU-D: 25-19, 25-18, 25-20