RETALIATING FROM two straight losses, the Ateneo Blue Eagles showed great heart after winning over the Adamson Lady Falcons, 2-1, this evening at the Sands SM by the Bay. Coming off their defeat by the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons earlier today, 0-2, the Blue and White finished the second day of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 86 Beach Volleyball Tournament on a high note.
10:00 AM match vs. UP
Unwavering glory slipped off the Ateneo Women’s Beach Volleyball Team’s hands, as the UP Fighting Maroons swiftly snatched the win amid the head-on showdown showcasing grit in the sands, 0-2.
In an attempt to defy UAAP Season 86 opening day setbacks, One Big Fight and UP Fight cheers clash among the crowd as Roma Mae Doromal and Gena Hora intensely vie for their first win of the season. The court’s intensity unfolded as Ateneo took an early lead in the first canto, dominating the sands with strategic roll attacks and robust spikes to the backcourt. However, the tenacity of UP’s Euri Eslapor and Irah Jaboneta became evident as they managed to catch up, capitalizing on service errors and outside attacks by their rivals. The first set concluded in favor of UP, 18-21, setting the stage for a closely contested match between the two squads.
Rallying from an initial setback, the dynamic Katipunan-duo seized control at the beginning of the second set, showcasing stability in their attacks and unmatched teamwork. Despite their efforts, the Fighting Maroons’ inbound aces and attacks caught the Blue Eagles off guard, leaving them at a drawback with unmanned corners and cunning inbound lands. In the midst of the set, Doromal and Hora risked to narrow the gap with calculated rolls and a crowd-hyping rally, aiming to disperse UP in their momentum.
However, despite commendable teamwork and communication, Ateneo fell short in guarding against inbound lands, wide attacks, and controlling service errors. On the verge of set point, Ateneo managed to close the gap by four points with clever tips from Doromal, and Hora’s intense knuckleball. Unfortunately, a pivotal service error from the Blue Eagles handed the Diliman-based duo their first win of the season, 16-21.
5:45 PM match vs. AdU
Despite their slow season openers, the Hora-Doromal tandem only powered back full throttle to clash against the Adamson Lady Falcons. Hora’s incredible service aces and Doromal’s expert aim took the Blue and White on an easy climb up the scoreboard in the early half of the set. However, the duo began falling into their own hands as they produced multiple service errors and miscalculated attacks. As their combined skill grew outmatched by their eagerness to score, Ateneo dropped the first set 16-21.
Quick to close the loopholes in their offensive front, the Blue and White produced non-stop aces to convert multiple points from services. As the duo rained down on the Lady Falcons throughout the second canto, the opposition began to lose their composure with every consecutive hit from Ateneo. Tying Adamson down below ten points, the Blue Eagles completely de-plumed their opponents in a swift and heavy landslide that ended 21-9 in Ateneo’s favor.
Eagle-eyed and determined to take down the Lady Falcons, Doromal and Hora showed the same unrelenting vigor in every successive hit. Meticulously sliding the ball down the rim of the net, Doromal gained the upper hand for Ateneo in the first few rallies of the deciding set. While their counterparts adapted to the Blue and White’s repeating side attack tactic, Hora’s unpredictable attacks shot through Adamson’s defense to finish the match, 15-7.
Now chalking up their first win this season, the Blue Eagles head onward with anticipation as they face the National University Lady Bulldogs on Sunday, 7:45 AM, at the same venue.
Set Scores:
Ateneo vs. UP: 18-21, 16-21
Ateneo vs. AdU: 16-21, 21-9, 15-7
