THE ATENEO Blue Eagles absorbed their second loss in the 2025 National Developmental Sports League Volleyball Series after facing the professional powerhouse Cignal HD Spikers in straight sets, 12-25, 22-25, 19-25. The matchup took place earlier today, July 11, at the Met Park Sports Center, Pasay City.
The opening set saw both teams with equally unstable pacing. With Cignal exhibiting faulty reception in the opening frames, the Blue Eagles capitalized on the opposition’s errors to tally their first point, 1-1.
The influx of violations on both ends of the court characterized the succeeding sequences of the set. As the Katipunan-based team displayed offensive efforts, Cignal challenged their defensive lapses to gain the upper hand, 5-4. Following this was Blue Eagle opposite hitter Karl Reyes’ crucial save, which prompted the first long rally of the match at 6-12.
After Reyes’ strenuous feat, Karl Corregidor solidified the momentum with his through-the-block hit, 10-17. However, his assertive attacks were soon traded for his double-contact violation and a monster block from the opposition, 10-19. Keeping the squad alive, Team Captain Jian Salarzon sent impressive crosscourt attacks from the right side of the court, 11-19.
The Blue Eagles then attempted to cut the deficit by displaying their in-court chemistry with a triple block at 12-20. Answering to the building momentum of the Blue and White, Martin Bugaoan sparked Cignal’s net domination, earning them back-to-back block points, 23-12. With Vince Abrot and Wendel Miguel contributing to Cignal’s excellent attack front, their team claimed the first set of the match, 25-12.
Motivated to bounce back from a lopsided opening frame, playmaker EJ Taluban set the tone for the Blue Eagles with a second-ball putaway, 1-0. Adding to Cignal’s surprise, Corregidor and Salarzon delivered a strategic play at the net, handing the Blue and White a three-point advantage, 5-2. As the Blue Eagles maintained the upper hand, the HD Spikers then responded with quick hits courtesy of Bugaoan and Nastin Gwaza to take over the lead, 9-8.
The second set progressed with the HD Spikers still capitalizing on their varied attacking options, while the Blue Eagles scrambled due to their unorganized defensive pattern, 15-11. However, consecutive blocks by Salarzon and hitter Tim Batac and errors from the opposition gave Ateneo a 4-0 run, thus securing a deadlock at 15-all.
With both teams racing to 25, HD Spikers Jay Rack De La Noche and Miguel broke through the Ateneo defense to elicit a three-point cushion in their favor, 20-17. Rookie Preece Atendido and Salarzon then attempted to salvage the set with off-the-block hits, but Bugaoan’s denial on Reyes’ attack put Cignal at set point, 24-20. Despite Reyes snatching a point, Bugaoan emphatically ended the second set with a quick hit, 25-22.
Hoping for a turnaround, the Blue Eagles welcomed the third set with polished floor defense as Taluban set up impressive plays for Corregidor and Pao Medino, 2-4. With Cignal unable to execute attack plays, the Katipunan-based team forced the deadlock with the professional team, 4-4. Although Libero Christian Quijano and Kristoffer Alejos demonstrated extensive efforts to get ahead, the Blue Eagles’ faulty reception paved the way for Miguel and Silang to gain the upper hand at 6-9.
Determined to bounce back, Quijano stepped up from the faulty reception of the Blue Eagles to set up a quick attack from Alejos, 10-12. Moved by this renewed ardor, Medino slammed down a calculated attack from the back row, 15-19.
As the Katipunan-based team continued to set their momentum off Cignal’s errors, Medino valiantly saved a match point from Cignal at 19-24. However, Cignal proved their dominance in the match after former Green Spiker-turned-HD Spiker Vince Maglinao scored off the fragile Katipunan wall, 25-19.
With the end of this match, the Blue Eagles remain in search of their first victory. They are set to face the SE-University of Perpetual Help System DALTA Kinto Tyres on Monday, July 21, at 3 PM in the same venue.
Set scores:
Ateneo (0) – Cignal (3): 12-25, 22-25, 19-25
