THE ATENEO Men’s Volleyball Team (AMVT) clinched their third victory in the 2025 V-League Collegiate Challenge Men’s Volleyball Tournament after downing the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (CSB) Blazers in four sets, 25-20, 23-25, 26-24, 25-15. The match was held earlier today, August 24, at Paco Arena, Manila.
This win puts the Blue Eagles at a 3-2 win-loss record in the elimination round standings, currently settled in 4th place.
Team Captain Jian Salarzon earned Player of the Game honors after earning 23 points off 18 attacks, four blocks, and one ace.
Setting the opening tone for Ateneo, Miguel Yu earned the first point of the match with an off-the-block kill, 1-0. The AMVT then took the early upper hand with Amil Pacinio and Rodge Alejos spearheading the offense and securing their squad a two-point advantage over the Blazers, 6-4. Riding on this momentum, Pacinio remained unstoppable on the right pin, driving an attack through CSB’s net defenders, 12-9.
Midway through the first set, Ateneo playmaker Enzo Gutierrez stunned the Blazers’ defense with a second ball putaway, followed by a Pacinio off-speed hit, 16-13. In spite of efforts from CSB’s hitters to cut the deficit, Salarzon scored consecutive points to cement a three-point lead for the Blue Eagles, 20-17. Displaying sheer dominance, Yu finally clinched the set in favor of AMVT through a down-the-line attack, 25-20.
As the second set began, the Loyola Heights-based team scored their first four points from CSB’s errors, 4-2. While consistency seemed to favor Ateneo’s side of the court, Salarzon and Yu’s errors elicited a deadlock, 7-all. The CSB Blazers eventually matched the Blue Eagles’ pace to exchange points and achieve ties, highlighted by opposite hitter Reymark Betco’s block on Salarzon, 20-all.
Capitalizing on Ateneo’s sluggish play, Mark Macagaling’s quick hit down, earning the Blazers their first lead in the set, 21-20. Even with Salarzon and Pacinio striking through the CSB defense, the Blue and White failed to contain Betco’s aggression at the net, handing the Blazers’ set point, 24-23. Ultimately, a miscommunication between Yu and Gutierrez extinguished Ateneo’s comeback hopes, 23-25.
Undeterred by the set loss, Ateneo began the third set with a 4-1 run, topped off by Salarzon’s service ace. The AMVT then maintained the advantage due to CSB’s errors, 8-6. Recovering from their lapses, the Blazers orchestrated a 5-1 counterrun to regain the lead, 11-9, forcing Blue Eagles Head Coach Vince Mangulabnan to call for time. Following the scramble, Yu and Brian Castro converted offensive attempts to stop the bleeding for Ateneo, 13-16.
Stuck in a cat-and-mouse situation, the Blue and White defense became unstable following a Mike Balbacal quick attack, 14-18. Although errors and offensive conversions helped Ateneo close the gap, they were still unable to deny an Alvin Sulayman attack that led CSB to set point, 22-24. Refusing to back down, Salarzon orchestrated a 4-0 offensive flurry, eventually leading to Ateneo’s second set win, 26-24.
In the fourth set, the Blue and White quickly built a 5-0 lead due to CSB’s repetitive faults and disorganized defense pattern. Gutierrez then activated both Karl Corrigedor and Salarzon, who surprised the CSB defenders with their offense, 9-6. Relentless in his pursuit of victory, Salarzon scored back-to-back points to sustain the Blue Eagles’ five-point cushion, 14-9.
Adamant to widen the gap, Ateneo’s middle blocker duo Corrigedor and Rodge Alejos produced quick points, underscored by Alejos’ denial on Balbacal’s quick attempt, 19-13. Although Joseph Reolalas nabbed one point in favor of the Blazers, the Blue and White read CSB’s offense with another Alejos block on Balbacal, acquiring match point, 24-14. In the end, a service fault by Balbacal sealed Ateneo’s third win of the tournament, 25-15.
After bagging their third victory, the AMVT is set to face the first-ranked De La Salle University Green Spikers on Saturday, September 6, at 12:00 PM in the same venue.
Set scores:
Ateneo (3) – CSB (1): 25-20, 23-25, 26-24, 25-15
Current Standings (W-L):
- DLSU Green Spikers (4-0)
- UST Golden Spikers (3-1)
- FEU Tamaraws (2-0)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles (3-2)
- NU Bulldogs (2-2)
- CSJL Knights (1-3)
- AU Chiefs (0-4)
- CSB Blazers (0-3)
