THE ATENEO Men’s Volleyball Team (AMVT) settled their University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 86 campaign in fifth place after subduing the Adamson University (AdU) Soaring Falcons in straight sets, 25-22, 25-21, 25-17. The Battle of the Skies occurred earlier today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
Following their first-round loss against the Soaring Falcons, this turnaround victory puts the Blue Eagles at a 7-7 win-loss record to cap off their stint in the UAAP Season 86 Men’s Volleyball Tournament.
Player of the Game Jian Salarzon led the Blue and White with 21 points on 19 attacks and two blocks, also collecting nine excellent receptions. Kennedy Batas also converted 12 markers on eight kills and four denials. On the side of Adamson, Jude Aguilar accumulated 12 points after nine hits and three guarded attacks.
The Blue Eagles opened the set with a two-point lead after a push by Gopio, 4-2. De Guzman then blocked Joel Menor to expand their advantage into a three-marker cushion, 7-4, forcing a substitution on the side of the Soaring Falcons. However, an 11-all deadlock shook the Atenean defense after a number of conversions from Soaring Falcon Ahmed Tahiluddin.
A consecutive give-and-take persisted until 17-all, until it was finally broken off by the Blue Eagles to secure the upper hand, 20-17. Eventually, Jett Gopio contained Tahiluddin on his quick attempt that led to Adamson’s miscommunication on the reception, 23-20. Thereafter, a Salarzon attack from the back row gave the Eagles the first set, 25-22.
In the succeeding race to 25, Salarzon ended a long rally to play the second set with a dominant left-wing attack, 2-2. Deadlocks prevailed once more after Licauco incurred a net touch violation, 10-all. In response, the Blue and White answered back with a 3-0 run courtesy of Batas at the helm, 13-10.
The Katipunan-based squad then pulled away after errors on the side of Adamson, coupled with Salarzon’s uncontainable offensive conversions, 21-16. Maintaining this advantage, Salarzon denied Adamson’s Francis Casas on his kill attempt to ultimately gain the second set in favor of Ateneo, 25-21.
As the third frame unfolded, the Katipunan-based squad continued their steady play with Batas guarding Dan Gutierrez at the net to get a one-point cushion, 2-1. Another tight set ensued, as Salarzon delivered a cross court kill to drive a deadlock at 12 points apiece. Afterward, a 6-1 scoring burst by the Blue and White extended their lead to four, 17-13, highlighted by Gopio blocking Menor on his back court attack.
James Licauco’s net defense rejected Menor’s attack from the left wing for their 19th point, and the Blue Eagles deviated further away by six, 20-14. Establishing their lead, Batas scored their next four markers on offensive and defensive plays to help the Blue Eagles clinch the match, 25-17.
As the AMVT houses seniors in the flock, libero Lance De Castro, setter Licauco, and middle blockers Gopio and De Guzman had their last dance with grace, expressing gratitude and praise after their UAAP season 86 run.
Pondering upon his next steps forward after this season, De Castro hopes to leave a legacy of passion and discipline for the game as he is expected to graduate from the Ateneo.
“That’s one thing I want to impart on the players na maiiwan namin. If I’ll [come] back next year, it’s more of, if they really want to learn from me and how I lead the team—that’s one thing that I want to give to them,” he concluded.
As the AMVT has yet to book their ticket into the Final Four since UAAP Season 81, they now seek to regroup and bounce back with a deeper, stronger, and feistier flock.
Box Scores:
Ateneo (3): Salarzon – 21, Batas – 12, Gopio – 8, Pacinio – 4, De Guzman – 4, Licauco – 2
AdU (0): Aguilar – 12, Paulino – 9, Menor – 7, Gay – 5, Tahiluddin – 5, Gutierrez – 3, Ballon – 2, Casas – 1
Set Scores:
Ateneo (3) – AdU (0): 25-22, 25-21, 25-17
Current Standings (W-L)
- FEU Tamaraws (12-2)
- NU Bulldogs (11-3)
- DLSU Green Spikers (10-3)
- UST Golden Spikers (8-5)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles (7-7)
- AdU Soaring Falcons (4-10)
- UP Fighting Maroons (1-12)
- UE Red Warriors (1-12)
