THE ATENEO Men’s Volleyball Team (AMVT) sustained their first loss against the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws in four sets, 26-24, 22-25, 18-25, 27-29. The preseason match took place earlier today at the Paco Arena in the City of Manila.
This loss puts the Blue Eagles at a 1-1 win-loss record in the preliminary round of the 2024 V-League Collegiate Challenge.
Aimar Okeke led the Blue and White with 14 points on 13 attacks and one block. Other Blue Eagles also stepped up offensively, with Kennedy Batas scoring 13, as well as Jian Salarzon and Jettlee Gopio having 10 markers apiece.
On the side of the Morayta-based squad, Mikko Espartero accumulated the highest offensive output on 14 points out of nine kills, four guarded attacks, and one unanswered service.
After FEU drew first blood to begin the opening salvo, the Blue and White went on a 3-0 run to take an early 3-1 lead. Salarzon kept the same tempo to reach the technical timeout first with an off-the-block hit, 8-5. However, the Tamaraws matched the momentum of the Blue Eagles at 12-all when former Blue Eagle Charles Absin scored off a middle hit.
The persistent deadlock finally came to a close with back-to-back blocks courtesy of Gopio and Salarzon, giving Ateneo the advantage, 23-21. Despite the Blue Eagles reaching the first set point, the Morayta-based squad forced a deuce following consecutive points by Espartero, 24-24. Errors on the side of FEU eventually gave the Blue Eagles the first set, 26-24.
Kicking off the second frame, the Tamaraws stunned the Blue Eagles with a quick 4-0 run. The erroneous start for the Katipunan-based squad allowed FEU to double Ateneo’s output midway through the set, 14-7. However, the Blue and White put up a number of offensive blocks on Dryx Saavedra to cut the deficit to two points, 15-17. Countering the AMVT’s run, Espartero unloaded offensive kills to ultimately gain the set in favor of the Tamaraws, 25-22.
A disorganized Ateneo unfolded in the third set, allowing FEU to benefit from an early lead, 6-2. However, errors from the Tamaraws helped the Blue Eagles to catch up and achieve a deadlock at 10 upon Salarzon guarding Amet Bituin at the net. Unfazed by their opponent’s run, the Tamaraws then bursted with a 6-0 run as a result of Okeke getting marked and Bituin driving the offense, 18-11. Eventually, FEU secured their second set victory with a solid net defense against Salarzon, 25-18.
Ateneo opened the fourth set suffering another deficit following quick attacks from Doula Ndongala and Lirick Mendoza, 5-8. Although faced by setbacks, the Blue and White managed to take a 13-12 lead thanks to the heroics and off-the-block attacks from Gopio and Okeke. Both teams then traded points on kills and denials, highlighted by Jeric Sendon’s kill block on Espartero, 22-20.
Entering yet another deuce, the Blue Eagles obtained multiple set points courtesy of hits from Salarzon and Okeke to reach the 27-all mark. However, the Tamaraws eventually regained control as a service error by Ateneo’s Ejira Taluban and a block point from Bituin ended the match, 27-29.
In hopes of improving their overall record, the AMVT will go up against the Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights next Sunday, August 11, at 5:00 PM in the same venue.
Box scores:
Ateneo (1): Okeke – 14, Batas – 13, Salarzon – 10, Gopio – 10, Sendon – 7, Alejos – 3, Gutierrez – 1, Taluban – 1
FEU (3): Espartero – 14, Talisayan – 13, Bituin – 12, Ndongala – 8, Saavedra – 6, Mendoza – 6, Martinez – 2, Absin – 2, Tandoc – 1
Set scores:
Ateneo-FEU: 26-24, 22-25, 18-25, 27-29
Current Standings (W-L)
- NU Bulldogs (2-0)
- FEU Tamaraws (2-0)
- DLSU Green Spikers (1-0)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles (1-1)
- UST Golden Spikers (0-1)
- UPHSD Altas (0-1)
- CSJL Knights (0-1)
- EAC Generals (0-2)
