ATENEO YIELDED to the Philippine Army Troopers (PAT) in a five-set thriller, 25-22, 25-19, 24-26, 19-25, 10-15, last Sunday at Paco Arena in Manila City. This loss puts the Blue Eagles at a 1-2 win-loss record in the preliminary round of the 2023 Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference.
Kennedy Batas and Jet Gopio led the Blue and White with robust attacking performances, clinching a total of 16 and 14 points each. On the other end of the court, PAT’s Manuel Medina and Mark Enciso seized the third to fifth set, garnering a total of 24 and 20 points, respectively.
Opening the first strophe strong, the Katipunan-based squad sent relentless kills to counter the equally aggressive attack front of the Army Troopers. Middle blocker Gopio and Cyrus De Guzman dominated at the net amidst the influx of offensive errors from the other end of the court. As a result of their willful attacks, Ateneo opened their account and banked in the opening set of the match, 25-22.
Consequently, the persevering Gopio and opposite hitter Batas spearheaded Ateneo’s second set win with multiple power drops and off-the-block points, challenging the floor defense of the PAT. Furthermore, Batas and Jeric Sendon challenged the Army Troopers with consistent off-the-block attacks from the open end of the court. Despite the strenuous efforts of Enciso and Medina to ignite a comeback from the Army Troopers, the Loyola Heights-based squad’s synergy led to their triumphant second-set victory, 25-19.
Eager to deny the Blue Eagles of a sweep, PAT started the third set with renewed ardor. Ateneo’s faulty reception at the beginning of the third frame was challenged by the Army Troopers’ aggressive attack front, resulting in a two-point lead for PAT, 6-4. Hoping to avenge point losses, Gopio and Sendon led the Blue and White with monster blocks and heavy kills from the middle, bringing Ateneo level with PAT, 21-21. Despite the relentless attacks sent by the Blue Eagles in the final plays of the set, the Army Troopers’ determination to extend the contest succeeded, claiming their first set of the match, 26-24.
The fourth canto opened with consecutive floor defense errors coming from the Katipunan-based squad. On the other hand, despite the defensive lapses committed by PAT, Jaylo Labide and Medina balanced it out with consistent off-the-block and cross-court attacks. As a result of the pairing’s impressive wing play, the Army Trooper clinched another set, 19-25, forcing the contest into a tiebreaker.
Determined to not let this game slip away, De Guzman opened the scoring with an attack from the open end of the court. Down the stretch, both sides of the court exhibited strong attack fronts, however, PAT’s unforgiving offense was the one that powered through Ateneo’s towers in the end. The arduous digs of libero-captain Lance De Castro in the Blue and White’s defense failed to secure any point leads against the Army Troopers who completed the comeback and shot down the Blue Eagles in the fifth set, 15-10.
Hoping to avenge their tough loss, Ateneo looks to counter the Iloilo-based squad, D’Naviagtors, on Sunday, 5:00 PM, at the same venue.
Box scores:
Ateneo (2): Batas – 16, Gopio – 14, De Guzman – 13, Sendon – 10, Taneo – 7, Licauco – 2
PAT (3): Medina – 24, Enciso – 20, Labide – 16, Villonson – 11, Liberato – 7, Ramirez – 3, Abdulmajid – 3
Set Scores:
Ateneo-PAT: 25-22, 25-19, 24-26, 19-25, 10-15
Standings:
- Sta. Elena – NU Nationals (3-0)
- Perpetual – Kinto Altas (2-1)
- Philippine Army Troopers (2-1)
- D’Navigators Iloilo (1-2)
- Ateneo-Fudgee Barr Blue Eagles (1-2)
- Don Pacundo – DLSU D Patriots (0-3)
