THE ATENEO Men’s Volleyball Team, having secured a Final Four bid the day before, looked to move up to third place in the standings against the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws. The Women’s Volleyball team, on the other hand, continued on their search for a Final Four bid as they took on the University of the East (UE) Lady Warriors.
Today’s fifth and final day of the elimination rounds for the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Beach Volleyball Tournament all took place earlier this morning at the SM Sands by the Bay in the City of Pasay.
Ateneo vs UE (Women’s)
Coming off a victory in their previous match, Roma Doromal and Gena Hora looked to continue their run of form against UE’s Van Bangayan and Krisha Revilla. The latter would begin the first set with a hot start, embarking on a 5-0 run after the Blue and White committed multiple faults. Hora’s spike had sparked a run for Ateneo but the Recto-based squadron would regain control, even extending their lead to double digits. The Lady Warriors eventually took the victory in the first set, striking first blood, 21-17.
Multiple service errors and outside faults burdened both teams at the start of the second set, but later regained composure. After both teams were deadlocked 5-5, stellar plays were made on both ends. This can be seen through Doromal’s statement spikes and Bangayan’s misdirection plays. However, the set turned in favor of the Blue and White once the first switching of courts occurred. Multiple faults on the Lady Warriors managed to turn the game on its head, leading to Ateneo winning the set and forcing a deciding third set, 21-11.
It would be Doromal’s partner-in-crime Hora who got things started for Ateneo in the third set, opening the set with a 5-0 run. The opposition would not go down without a fight. Led by Bangayan, UE would cut the lead to one, 5-4. However, the Katipunan-based squadron showed their prowess right after, winning the third set of the match and the game, 15-8.
Unfortunately, the efforts of the Blue Eagles were all for naught due to the results of today’s previous matches wherein the University of the Philippines defeated De La Salle University. This would close the door on any chance for a Final Four bid for the Women’s Volleyball Team.
Ateneo vs FEU (Men’s)
In this high-stakes matchup, Ateneo’s Amil Pacinio and Jian Salarzon took on FEU’s Vincent Madera and JJ Javelona. The Katipunan-based team was gifted a 3-1 advantage after multiple faults were committed by the Tamaraws. Despite FEU’s attempts to close the gap, Ateneo would only increase their advantage, leading to victory for the Blue and White in the first set, 21-13.
What came next was a nail-biting and thrilling set between an Ateneo team eager to seal the deal, and an FEU duo who were hoping to extend the match to a deciding third set. Neither team was able to extend a lead above two points, and on multiple occasions were deadlocked on points. This would continue up until the closing stages of the second set, wherein both the Blue Eagles and Tamaraws exchanged crucial mistakes, from service errors to contact violations. In the end, it was the Blue and White who came out on top after an intense rally leading to a spike by Team Captain Pacinio, 24-22.
With the victory, the Ateneo Men’s Volleyball Team climbed to third in the overall standings, demoting FEU to the fourth and final berth in the standings.
