Following the thrilling events of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Men’s Volleyball tournament’s first round, the Ateneo Blue Eagles head into the latter half of eliminations. This midseason takeaways article will navigate the state of the Blue Eagles as they continue their steady pace toward the UAAP summit.
FUELED BY their promising display in the first round, the Ateneo Men’s Volleyball Team (AMVT) find themselves sitting in the upper half of UAAP Season 87. However, the Blue and White acknowledges that there is still more room to grow, as their fourth-seeded standing only puts them at the fringe of a postseason slot.
With unyielding vigor, the Blue Eagles have formulated mixed results midway through the season. On the downside, Ateneo submitted to the masteries of the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Spikers, the Far Eastern University Tamaraws, and the National University (NU) Bulldogs—all in four grueling sets.
However, the Blue Eagles also flexed their might with a victory in their four-set shutdown against the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Tigers. Furthermore, Ateneo banked a straight-set victory from the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors, outshined their Katipunan rivals University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, and boasted their winning chemistry against the Adamson University Soaring Falcons.
With their 4-3 win-loss record, the Blue Eagles are sure to strive for a deeper run in the final stretch of the elimination round to rise in the standings.
Long time coming
Carmela: Hunger is a feeling all well-known by the AMVT. Ever since the resumption of the collegiate league last Season 85, the Blue Eagles have been deprived of a Final Four appearance, consecutively settling for fifth. Thus, if there is a perfect time for a comeback, it would be now.
Looking at the current numbers for this season, it seems as if the Katipunan-based squad has all bases covered, especially on the offensive side. After the first round of eliminations, Kennedy Batas stands as the best scorer on the men’s roster. Jian Salarzon and Amil Pacinio also gave additional offensive boost for the Blue Eagles, sitting as the best servers and fourth-best spikers in the team statistics.
Despite this offensive proficiency, the AMVT has been plagued by errors on the floor—as evidenced in their match against the Green Spikers. During their four-set nail-biter, the Blue Eagles gave away 33 points due to miscues.
The Blue and White also struggled to sustain their momentum versus their Taft rivals, fumbling multiple early-set advantages in the matchup. Errors on the service line particularly gave away what could have been a historic win for Ateneo, as they have not won against their long-standing adversaries since Season 85.
Reflecting on this issue, the key to sealing their Final Four seat is consistency. As much as the AMVT proves themselves to be masters in the field, their skills will fail to be maximized if they remain clouded by oversights in play. Luckily, the boys in blue have shown this season that they are a well-oiled machine that quickly fills each other’s gaps.
In their dominant showing against the Red Warriors, setter Lorenzo Gutierrez made an impression with 18 excellent sets, earning the Player of the Game title. As the UAAP’s current second-best setter, Gutierrez’s playmaking skills allowed Ateneo’s hitters to overthrow the Recto-based squad like a walk in the park. This kind of connection in a team can continually make the AMVT a thunderous presence on the floor.
Undoubtedly, the Blue Eagles possess all the pieces that make up a bona fide championship contender. As long as they keep their guards up, there is nothing that can stop them from climbing the finals ladder. The Vincent Mangulabnan-coached unit is more than ready to earn its rightful place in the finals showcase. It is their destiny—and it has been waiting for them.
Poise under pressure
Gabrielle: As Ateneo entered the taraflex to face UST, the Blue Eagles stunned the highly-touted contenders after a thrilling showdown—to the pleasant surprise of many.
Claiming the vindictive victory against the Golden Spikers only proves decisive of Ateneo’s knack for producing winning formulas. Bolstered by the impressive display of athleticism from veterans Batas, Pacinio, and Salarzon, the Blue Eagles manifested the improving state of both their offensive and defensive units.
Calling to capitalize on their offensive advantage, the formidable trio delivered masterful tactics in the critical frames of the game. Batas’ pivotal role in securing the early advantage notably set the tempo for the rest of the match.
Pacinio, who was the said game’s leading scorer, also displayed a similar show of prowess, quickly answering the Golden Spikers’ equally aggressive attack front with his piercing kills. Fortifying the Blue Eagles further was Salarzon’s impressive showing which tugged the advantage from UST’s solid frontline.
Ateneo’s commanding display against last season’s finalists is a testament to their unwavering energy and on-court strategies. However, the increased level of quality flaunted by the Blue and White is also coupled with a string of service errors and cautionary floor defense lapses.
As reflected by their consecutive extended set victories and losses, Ateneo remains confined in a risky position at the fourth spot. While the Blue Eagles did sweep UE in their recent match, Ateneo’s hazy chances of securing a set-sweep win prove they still have much to improve on in the tournament. To further enhance their game, the Blue and White must reinforce their defensive approach to complement their improved offensive mindset, especially if they are dead set on prevailing in the UAAP.
“Our focus is really the whole system. Lalo na siguro ‘yung (Especially with) defense since lahat naman siguro sa (all the teams in) UAAP Men’s [Volleyball are] attack-oriented teams eh,” said head coach Vince Mangulabnan.
With unsteady variability stemming from their first-round performance, the AMVT will need to further augment their collective two-way ability to continue mounting the UAAP summit.
Flashes of brilliance
Ani: Despite some flaws embedded in their up-and-down start, the AMVT still looks to finish the season not merely on a good, but on a stellar note. Although the offensive firepower of the Blue Eagles is their indisputable highlight this season, the defensive efforts of the team have provided a crucial backbone that has kept them in the upper half of the playoff push.
Team Captain Lance De Castro has specifically proved to be a pivotal piece in the team’s system. With a total of 64 excellent digs and 44 excellent receptions, the veteran leads the league in both statistical categories this season, highlighting his effort and determination in every set, point, and match. Even looking beyond the statistics, De Castro is the clear leader and glue that keeps the team together in tough stretches, sustaining high spirits and sharp focus on victory.
Building on De Castro’s stout defense and leadership, key players Jettlee Gopio and Batas have only further strengthened the Blue Eagles on the defensive end. This season, Gopio currently ranks second in the league in both kill blocks and rebounds, tallying a total of 20 kill blocks and 64 rebounds, respectively.
Although Batas’ offensive prowess often overshadows his defensive capabilities, the Katipunan-based squad’s open hitter has provided a league-best 101 excellent receptions and second-best 90 serve receptions, all while leading the team in scoring. This stretch has solidified the impact of the current Most Valuable Player frontrunner on both ends, which has led the Blue Eagles up to this point of the season.
Against the Bulldogs, the Blue Eagles only further proved the impact of their defense, taking a set off the defending champions and making them work for every point. Although the Blue Eagles eventually lost the match, 1-3, the Katipunan-based squad consistently maintained a narrow gap against NU, even controlling the game’s pace and gaining early leads at some junctures.
Such a valiant stand displays the potential firepower the team has on both offense and defense. However, it is clear that the Blue Eagles must remain focused and build upon these advantages if they want to decisively close out games and not just keep within striking distance.
Although their 4-3 start leaves room for more, it also leaves a hungrier AMVT, who looks to finish the season confidently as they remain steadfast in their efforts toward a deep postseason run. With a chip on their shoulder and another half of the season left to play, the Blue Eagles have never looked more dangerous.
Upcoming games:
Saturday, March 22, at 12:00 PM, vs. the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons at the SM Mall of Asia Arena
Saturday, March 29 at 11:00 AM, vs. the Adamson University Soaring Falcons at the Smart Araneta Coliseum
Standings:
- FEU Tamaraws (7-0)
- NU Bulldogs (6-1)
- UST Golden Spikers (4-3)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles (4-3)
- DLSU Green Spikers (4-3)
- UP Fighting Maroons (2-5)
- AdU Soaring Falcons (1-6)
- UE Red Warriors (0-7)
