THE ATENEO Blue Eagles continued their University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 86 stint with a tough loss over the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Spikers in five tight sets, 25-23, 17-25, 18-25, 25-21, 15-11. The match occurred earlier today at the Mall of Asia Arena in the City of Pasay.

This defeat puts the Blue Eagles at a 2-2 record in the elimination round standings of the UAAP Men’s Volleyball Tournament.

Despite the loss, Aimar Okeke led the Blue and White with 15 kills, 2 blocks, and 2 aces. Supporting him was star sophomore Jian Salarzon who garnered 15 points to his name.

Both teams welcomed the rivalry game with offensive intensity, exchanging kills from the middle and left wing, 3-3. Set one remained at a deadlock until an emphatic backcourt kill from Okeke and an ace from middle blocker Ryan Daculan was followed by attack errors from DLSU, 9-6. Salarzon fortified the blue blockade to put pressure at the net, collecting vital block touches to decrease DLSU’s attacking efficiency, 12-9. Despite Green Spiker Vince Maglinao locking in kills for La Salle, 21-20, Batas and Salarzon’s attacking prowess prevailed to claim the opener for Ateneo, 25-23. 

The boys in blue carried over their momentum to greet the second set with a two-point lead, 3-1. Ateneo maintained the upper hand with Mangulabnan maximizing all his attackers, but DLSU’s Maglinao turned the tides after a pipe attack that impaired the Blue and White’s floor defense, 13-12. The Blue Eagles continued to struggle at the floor with the Green Spikers commanding the offense for an overwhelming 13-2 run, 14-22. Despite Okeke’s efforts to spark a comeback, 15-23, the Taft-based squad utilized lethal combination plays to level the playing field at one-set apiece, 25-17.

Set three was welcomed with an exchange of kills yet again, as both teams quickly adjusted to each other’s offensive tactics, 12-12. However, Green Spiker Nathaniel Del Pilar astutely targeted the unmanned center of Ateneo’s court, successfully rattling Blue Eagle defenders, 19-17. Capitalizing on newfound momentum, Del Pilar continued to deliver quick attacks, 22-18, and Maglinao claimed another frame for DLSU after a kill block against Batas, 25-18.

With stakes rising, the Katipunan-based squad began the fourth set with miscommunication errors, 5-6, while La Salle continued to dominate from the wings. Standing firm on the attack front, Salarzon and Batas delivered clean blows from the pins to keep the Green Spiker’s lead from growing past two points, 13-15. The game changer then came at the hands of Team Captain Amil Pacinio, who locked in a crucial kill block, 18-19, while Okeke’s backrow kills coupled with errors from La Salle cemented a lead for Ateneo, 21-19. Pacinio sustained his heroics to deliver an ace, 23-20, and despite Maglinao’s attempts to salvage the set, La Salle’s net touch errors extended the match in Ateneo’s favor, 25-21.

Both green and blue squads played with impressive defensive tenacity to open the deciding set, keeping the scoreboard at a deadlock, 3-3. However, too much adrenaline proved costly for the Blue Eagles, as they were plagued with errors to give La Salle a three-point advantage, 4-7. Okeke momentarily mended the deficit with powerful backrow kills, 5-8, but DLSU ace Noel Kampton was unfazed and proceeded to overwhelm Ateneo with clean cross-court shots, 9-7. Okeke hustled to give the Blue Eagles a two-point cushion at 12-10, but the winning momentum stayed with La Salle as Roquillo denied Pacino’s attempted kill, and Billie Anima claimed the match with an unstoppable quick hit from the middle, 15-11.

Hungry to bounce back from the defeat, the Ateneo Blue Eagles will challenge the University of Santo Tomas Golden Spikers on Saturday, March 9, at 10:00 AM in the same venue.

Box scores:

Ateneo (2): Okeke – 19, Salarzon – 15, Batas – 12, Pacinio – 5, Daculan – 5, De Guzman – 3, Mangulabnan – 1

DLSU (3): Maglinao – 21, Ronquillo – 20, Poquita – 18, Del Pilar, 10, Anima – 6, Adajar – 2, Ventura – 2

Set scores: 

Ateneo (3)-DLSU (1): 25-23, 17-25, 18-25, 25-21, 15-11

Standings: 

1. FEU Tamaraws (3-0) 
2. DLSU Green Spikers: (3-1) 
3. NU Bulldogs (3-1) 
4. UST Golden Spikers: (2-1) 
5. ATENEO Blue Eagles (2-2) 
6. AdU Soaring Falcons (1-2) 
7. UE Red Warriors (0-3)
8. UP Fighting Maroons (0-4)