Sports

Blue Eagles stay flawless on Day 3 of JAM, advances to Finals in all events

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Published January 31, 2025 at 4:22 pm
Photo by Bea Pador

THE ATENEO de Manila Blue Eagles entered the third day of the Jesuit Athletic Meet (JAM) 2025 with even greater flair, winning every single match to clinch their spots in the Finals.

The participating teams in the events include Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU), Ateneo de Naga University, Ateneo de Zamboanga University (AdZU), and Xavier University–Ateneo de Cagayan (XU).

With today’s results, the Loyola Heights-based squad has proved that their dominating play has not waned, as each team qualified for their respective championship rounds in stellar fashion.

The matches were held earlier today at the Ateneo Senior High School Formation and Learning Center Building and the Moro Lorenzo Field.

Men’s Volleyball vs XU

The Ateneo Men’s Volleyball Team (AMVT) set the tone for the host school by toppling the XU Crusaders, 2-0. 

Outside hitter Jian Salarzon starred in the first set, delivering cross-court kills and service aces. The Blue Eagles’ blocking and reception techniques were also on point as they held off the Crusaders in a commanding 25-5 first-set win.

In contrast to the previous frame, the Cagayan de Oro-based squad showed more resistance in the second set. Compounded by the Blue Eagles’ errors, XU managed to stay within striking distance, 7-10. However, Ken Batas spearheaded an 8-0 run for Ateneo, 18-10.

Ultimately, the Blue Eagles’ powerful attacks proved overwhelming for the Crusaders as the Katipunan-based unit cruised to victory, 25-11.

With this win, the AMVT concluded the elimination round with a record of 4-0, claiming the first seed. They will face XU once again in the Finals tomorrow.

Men’s Basketball vs XU

Eager to barge their way into the Finals, the Ateneo Men’s Basketball Team (AMBT) took the court against the Crusaders from Xavier University.

Making full use of their size advantage, the Blue Eagles got off to a quick 6-0 lead with Femi Edu commanding the paint with his ferocious offensive rebounding and putbacks. However, the team struggled to maintain the same energy on the defensive end, as the offensive rebounds of the Crusaders led to their own 8-0 run, taking the lead 8-6.

Rising star Gamber held the fort for the Blue Eagles in the first quarter, as the sophomore went on a personal nine-point run, draining Ateneo’s first three-pointer and keeping the score deadlocked at 15 to end the first frame.

Ateneo big Kymani Ladi made his mark, as his towering presence in the shaded area put the Cagayan de Oro-based squad in the penalty three minutes into the second quarter. However, the Blue Eagles were unable to capitalize, as Xavier University’s hot shooting from beyond the arc turned their 18-26 deficit into a 31-all halftime score.

Carrying the momentum heading into the third period, the Crusaders continued their hot shooting, drilling successive 15-footers to give the Blue Eagles their largest deficit of the match, 33-38. Unfazed by the early run, the Katipunan-based team rallied behind Cebuano shooter Michael Osoro to snatch the lead back, 41-40.

With neither team able to break away, a momentum-shifting and-one play by Edu followed by another Osoro triple gave the Blue Eagles a 49-45 advantage to cap the third period.

The fourth quarter was a completely different story for the Blue Eagles, as the team atoned for their struggles from the three-point line by starting the period with a booming triple. Ladi maintained his dominance in the paint, swatting away shots at the rim while the rest of the team’s defensive intensity finally picked up. Following a post-fadeaway banker by Ladi, the Blue Eagles saw themselves with the first double-digit lead of the game, 58-48.

Despite their efforts to keep the game close, the Crusaders were unable to penetrate the defense of the Blue Eagles, as Ladi turned away another shot resulting in a Gamber trey, extending their lead, 71-54.

Back-to-back dagger threes from Thirdy Ebdane sealed the deal, as the Katipunan-based squad blasted their way to the Finals, 77-58.

Women’s Volleyball vs. AdZU

After an overall shaky performance yesterday against AdDU, the Ateneo Women’s Volleyball Team (AWVT) entered their game against Ateneo de Zamboanga with an even fiercer desire to win. 

This newfound motivation enabled the Blue and White to manufacture a solid two-set victory, as they now enter the JAM 2025 Finals as favorites.

In the first set, the AWVT immediately blew the game wide open, 10-2, courtesy of their spikers’ unrelenting attacks. The architect behind these fast, pinpoint drives was no other than Gena May Hora, who always found the open spiker with her sets. 

The combination of kills and blocks eventually led to the Blue Eagles winning the first set in supreme fashion over the Azul Aguilas, 25-4.

The next frame showcased a similar game state, with Ateneo de Manila holding a 16-7 lead despite the back-and-forth opening. Christen Mikaela Quimpo became the star of the bout, as she consistently found gaps in the AdZU defense.

Courtesy of the middle blockers’ quick attacks, the AWVT gradually accumulated a solid lead, which they then used to secure the 25-10 victory with a tremendous double block en route to the Finals.

Men’s Football vs. AdZU

Looking to conclude the preliminaries on a high note, the Ateneo Men’s Football Team (AMFT) commenced today’s action with a dominant 10-1 victory over the AdZU Azul Aguilas.

Despite early struggles in maneuvering through the Zamboanga-based side’s defense, the Blue Eagles eventually found their rhythm after Javier Bengson opened the scoring off a scramble in the 19th minute, 1-0. Marcus Arias and Jethro Flores followed suit with emphatic efforts in the 22nd and 28th minute to triple the margin, 3-0.

Building on their superb first-half play, the Katipunan-based side surged to a roaring start in the second half. Flores spearheaded the offensive, scoring four goals in the closing 30 minutes.

Supplementing the defender’s undeniable brilliance, Rico Magno, Jet Dela Cruz, and Dov Cariño also contributed in the 35th, 41st, and 46th minutes as the AMFT cruised to a mammoth lead, 10-0. However, the Blue Eagles’ clean sheet streak was broken as the Azul Aguilas found the back of the net in the 58th minute, 10-1.

The win cements AMFT’s pristine record at the end of the eliminations, standing atop the table with twelve points.

All Ateneo de Manila representatives will look to conclude the 2025 JAM on a strong note as they hope to bag the crown in all events tomorrow, February 1, at the same venues.

The Finals will begin with Men’s Football at 9:30 AM, followed by the Volleyball championships at 12:30 PM, and Men’s Basketball at 2:30 PM.


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