THE ATENEO Blue Eagles continued their University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 86 stint with a victory over the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons in five sets, 25-15, 18-25, 25-15, 20-25, 15-10. The match occurred earlier today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
This win puts the Blue Eagles at a 5-4 win-loss record, keeping them at fourth place in the second round standings of the UAAP Men’s Volleyball Tournament.
Both Katipunan-based squads welcomed the contest boasting their attack variation with quick kills and clever tips, 2-2. The Fighting Maroons took advantage of their strong start to assert a two-point advantage, 4-6, but star sophomore Jian Salarzon’s time on deck successfully destabilized the UP defense to level the board, 7-7. Opposite hitter Ken Batas and Team Captain Amil Pacinio then spearheaded Ateneo’s 6-1 run with powerful blows from the pins, 17-13, stifling UP’s effort to bounce back.
Midway through the set, reigning Season 85 Best Libero Lance De Castro was replaced on the court by Leinuel Crisostomo after a stumble that resulted in a minor sprain. Undeterred by their teammate’s absence, Blue Eagle attackers coupled with the Fighting Maroons’ unforced errors allowed Ateneo to claim the first set, 25-15.
The following frame saw increased aggressiveness from UP as their improved net defense contained Batas and Salarzon, 4-9. Unfazed by the Fighting Maroons’ scoring outburst, Batas matched their attacking rhythm for a standstill at 14-14. However, the men in maroon showcased their stellar floor defense to regain the lead, 16-20, while using the blue blockade for off-the-block points, 17-22. The Fighting Maroons then took the second set with a solid block followed by an error from Ateneo, 18-25.
Hungry to redeem their set loss, the Blue Eagles breezed through the third set with check ball points and kill blocks, 8-2. Staking the Fighting Maroons on the scoreboard, Ateneo proceeded to showcase their speed on the transition, closing out the crucial set with a comfortable 15 point lead, 25-15.
Keeping their momentum, the Blue Eagles maintained their good form in set four, 8-6, until UP ace Louis Gamban forced a deadlock with unstoppable crosscourt hits, 11-11. Stealing away the lead, UP fortified their wall to sabotage Ateneo’s attacking efficiency, and hustled to extend the match, 20-25.
The Blue Eagles commanded court momentum early in the final set with Batas leading the charge for a four-point lead, 5-1. Setter Jan Mangulabnan maximized all his attackers for easy kills to overwhelm UP floor defenders, 8-4. With UP only getting breathing room from Ateneo errors and off-the-block hits, the boys in blue were merciless from the wings—not relinquishing their dominant start. Batas, who would later be named Player of the Game for his excellent showing totalling 30 points, finished the contest with an emphatic spike off the weak UP wall, 15-10.
Eager to improve their standing even further, the Ateneo Blue Eagles will meet the top-seeded Far Eastern University Tamaraw Spikers Thursday, April 4, at 12:00 PM in the Mall of Asia Arena.
Box scores:
Ateneo (3) – Batas – 30, Salarzon – 20, Pacinio – 16, Daculan – 9, De Guzman – 5, Gopio – 1, Mangulabnan – 1, Sendon – 1
UP (2) – Malaban – 19, Gamban – 17, Rubin – 14, Nicolas – 9, Lagando – 8, Santiago – 2, Samaniego – 1
Set scores:
Ateneo (3) – UP (2): 25-15, 18-25, 25-15, 20-25, 15-10
Standings:
Standings:
1. FEU Tamaraws (7-1)
2. NU Bulldogs (7-2)
3. DLSU Green Spikers (5-3)
4. ATENEO Blue Eagles (5-4)
5. UST Golden Spikers (4-4)
6. AdU Soaring Falcons (4-4)
7. UE Red Warriors (1-7)
8. UP Fighting Maroons (0-9)
