THE ATENEO Men’s Volleyball Team (AMVT) opened their preseason campaign with a clean straight-sets victory over the Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) Generals, 25-13, 25-23, 25-22. The match took place earlier today at the Paco Arena.
This win puts the Blue Eagles at a 1-0 win-loss record in the men’s division of the 2024 V-League Collegiate Challenge.
Aimar Okeke spearheaded the victory with 17 points off 11 kills, four aces, and two blocks. Meanwhile, Jian Salarzon and Ken Batas proved to still be the key attackers for Ateneo with nine and eight points, respectively.
Ateneo welcomed the first set with a dominant display of offense, creating an early four-point lead over the Generals, 8-4. Veteran spikers Batas and Okeke were back in action, as starting setter Enzo Gutierrez quickly utilized them from both wings for easy kills. Coupled with several attack errors from EAC, the Blue and White played clean to maintain their lead, 17-8.
The gap also provided the Blue and White’s newcomers with considerable minutes on the court. Substituted in place of Batas, rookie opposite hitter Karl Reyes earned his first point as a Blue Eagle with a crosscourt hit, 23-12. With EAC continuing to succumb to their errors, Ateneo took the opening frame, 25-13.
The following set saw more rookie debuts for the Katipunan-based squad, as first-year middle blocker Kristopher Alejos locked in a quick attack to open the second set, 1-2. The Blue Eagles continued their good offensive form, 16-9, until better floor coverage and increased aggressiveness from EAC allowed the Generals to catch up and minimize the deficit, 17-15.
EAC’s Frelwin Taculog steered his team with well-placed hits to snatch the lead, 19-18. Towering over the opponent’s blockade, however, Okeke stepped in to slowly gain control of the set anew and take a 2-0 set lead for Ateneo, 25-23.
The two teams exchanged off-the-block hits and kill blocks to open the crucial third set, 8-5. Middle blocker Jeric Sendon showcased his net heroics, cementing a comfortable lead for the Blue and White, 14-6. Challenged to play with urgency and close the gap, the Generals’ setter Dave Gante and middle blocker Kenneth Batiancila led the charge to earn their team’s much-needed kills, 15-11.
Undeterred by EAC’s improving plays, the Blue Eagles solidified their floor defense led by Team Captain Lance De Castro to remain in the driver’s seat, 17-11. With Okeke’s stable offensive play at the left wing, Ateneo claimed their first win after a regalo point from Alejos, 25-22.
Determined to use this new-found momentum to collect more wins, the Ateneo Blue Eagles will face the Far Eastern University Tamaraw Spikers on Sunday, August 4, at 12:00 PM in the same venue.
Set scores:
Ateneo-EAC: 25-13, 25-23, 25-22
