THE ATENEO Beach Volleyball Teams conclude the elimination round of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 with one win and one loss. Both games took place earlier today, November 29, at the Sands at SM by the Bay in the City of Pasay.
In what would be their final contest, the Ateneo Women’s Beach Volleyball Team (AWBVT) fell to the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, 1-2, in a virtual playoff for the fourth seed. On the other hand, the Ateneo Men’s Beach Volleyball Team (AMBVT) booked a ticket to the Final Four by sweeping the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors, 2-0.
Women’s match vs. UP
During the opening match, Ateneo’s Liz Lomocso and Gry Matibag took on UP’s Jum Gayo and Kryssia Ornos with firm hopes of securing a final four spot. However, the first set went the way of the Fighting Maroons as the Blue Eagles succumbed to a 12-point deficit by the end of the set, 9-21.
A complete reversal took place in the second set, as the Loyola Heights-based duo dominated the set with 21-9 to knot things up at one set apiece.
In the third and final set, the Blue Eagles were edged out by the Diliman duo, 8-15, giving UP the fourth seed.
Men’s match vs. UE
Veteran Blue Eagles Jian Salarzon and Amil Pacinio welcomed their lone match of the day with high spirits–tussling the sands in the opening set against the UE Red Warriors’ Allen Buensalida and Julian Celestial. Establishing rhythm early on in the match, Ateneo clinched the first set with a comfortable 21-13 advantage.
Carrying over this momentum, the formidable Salarzon-Pacinio duo solidified their mark in the second set. The Blue Eagles were able to maintain composure throughout the match, helping them secure a decisive 21-9 victory.
Concluding the fifth day of the competition with a 4-3 win-loss record, the Ateneo Men’s Volleyball Team celebrates advancing to the final four battles after missing out in Season 87.
Using this winning formula, the Blue Eagles hope to solidify their claim to a podium seat in their match against the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Sands tomorrow, November 30, at 8:00 AM in the same venue.
Set scores:
Women’s Division
Ateneo (1) – UP (2): 9-21, 21-9, 8-15
Men’s Division
Ateneo (2) – UE (0): 21-13, 21-9
Final Standings (W-L):
Women’s Division
- UST Tiger Sands (7-0)*
- NU Lady Bulldogs (6-1)*
- FEU Lady Tamaraws (5-2)*
- UP Fighting Maroons (4-3)*
- Ateneo Blue Eagles (3-4)
- AdU Lady Falcons (2-5)
- DLSU Lady Spikers (1-6)
- UE Lady Warriors (0-7)
Men’s Division
- UST Tiger Sands (7-0)*
- NU Bulldogs (6-1)*
- FEU Tamaraws (4-3)*
- Ateneo Blue Eagles (4-3)*
- AdU Soaring Falcons (3-4)
- DLSU Green Spikers (2-5)
- UP Fighting Maroons (2-5)
- UE Red Warriors (0-7)
* – clinched Final Four berth
