THE ATENEO Men’s Volleyball Team (AMVT) was stymied by the University of Sto. Tomas (UST) Golden Spikers following a swift sweep, 22-25, 16-25, 18-25, in the 2024 V-League Collegiate Challenge. The anticipated match was held earlier today at the Paco Arena in the City of Manila. This loss puts the AMVT at a 1-5 win-loss record, officially eliminating them from semifinal contention.
Kennedy Batas spearheaded the Ateneo’s offense with 10 points off nine attacks and one block, while Jian Salarzon accumulated nine markers from seven kills and two denials. On the other side of the court, Jay Rack De La Noche posted a 17 point-performance off 14 offensive conversions, two guarded attacks, and one service ace for UST.
The start of the first set saw both squads go neck-in-neck to attain a lead, 5-5. However, consecutive faults from the side of Ateneo, along with a block from UST’s Trevor Valera, sent the España-based squad into the first technical timeout, 8-5. Eager to equalize, the Blue and White improved their overall play to eventually take over the lead, courtesy of a three-man block over Golden Spiker Jan Macam, 11-10.
As both teams faced persistent deadlocks until the 17-point mark, consecutive points by the Blue Eagles gave them a two-point cushion, 19-17. This momentum proved to be short-lived, however, as the España-based squad pulled away at the backend of the set from a Popoy Colinares block, coupled with attacks from Gboy De Vega, 24-21. UST’s Dux Yambao eventually fed the ball to Valera for a quick attack to conclude the first set in favor of the Golden Spikers, 25-22.
Entering the second canto, an attack error from Jeric Sendon handed UST first blood, but Ateneo quickly responded with a Kristofer Alejos quick attack to equalize, 1-all. Amid the early deadlock, the Golden Spikers pulled away with a four-point advantage, 9-5. Ateneo’s defense also crumbled as the set progressed, allowing Yambao to sneak in a setter dump, 10-6.
The España-based squad continued to be in-system while banking on Ateneo’s faltering floor defense, forcing Interim Coach Vince Mangulabnan to call for a timeout after Macam’s off-the-block hit, 12-19. Adding to the Blue and White’s woes, Sherwin Umandal came off the bench to chalk up points from crosscourt kills, followed by a quickplay from Colinares to put UST at set point, 24-14. Another Colinares quick delivered the second set victory to España, 25-16.
Ateneo entered the crucial third set with an evident lack of a cohesive system, resulting in a 4-1 UST run. Banking on their net defense to close the gap, Batas provided a much-needed block against Valera, while Salarzon denied Yambao’s dump attempt to minimize the deficit, 6-9. Karl Reyes also proved to be a spark plug in the set, capitalizing on the UST’s blockers with varying attacks, 11-14.
However, the Gold and White retained their three-marker cushion throughout the midpoint of the canto, with a four-touch violation from the Blue Eagles adding to their advantage, 21-17. The Golden Spikers then went on a 4-0 run, topped off by a De La Noche tip, to end the match on a sweeping trounce, 25-18.
With their penultimate game in the tournament resulting in a loss, Ateneo hopes to end the preseason on a high note as they take on defending National Collegiate Athletic Association champions University of Perpetual Help System Dalta Altas on Friday, September 13, at 3:00 PM in the same venue.
Box scores:
Ateneo (0): Batas – 10, Salarzon – 9, Reyes – 7, Alejos – 5, Gopio – 3, Gutierrez – 2, Sendon – 1
UST (3): De La Noche – 17, Colinares – 11, De Vega – 10, Valera – 8, Macam – 7, Yambao – 2, Umandal – 2
Set scores:
Ateneo-UST: 22-25, 16-25, 18-25
Current Standings (W-L)
- FEU Tamaraws (6-1)
- DLSU Green Spikers (5-1)
- UST Golden Spikers (5-2)
- UPHSD Altas (3-3)
- NU Bulldogs (4-2)
- CSJL Knights (2-5)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles (1-5)
- EAC Generals (1-6)
