The Ateneo Men’s Volleyball Team (AMVT) conceded a five-set thriller against the Adamson University (AdU) Soaring Falcons, 28-26, 24-26, 28-30, 25-22, 12-15, to open University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88. The match was held earlier today, February 15, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
This loss puts the Blue Eagles at fourth place in the standings with a 0-1 win-loss record.
Making his return after sitting out of Season 87, Aimar Okeke delivered 23 points off 20 attacks, two blocks, and one ace. Meanwhile, veterans Amil Pacinio and Jian Salarzon contributed 20 and 17 points each, respectively. On the side of Ermita, Jims Ducusin led Adamson with 23 points to power his squad to their first win of the season.
To open the set, Blue Eagle Okeke earned his first point back in the UAAP with a down-the-line hit, 1-1. Veteran Pacinio followed with a crosscourt kill to give Ateneo the advantage, 4-3. However, Soaring Falcons Leo Coguimbal and Ducusin instigated a 5-0 strike to shift the pace in their favor, 8-4.
Striving to overturn Adamson’s lead, setter Enzo Gutierrez delivered quick attack sets to middle blockers Brian Castro and Rodge Alejos in attempts to cut the deficit, 11-13. Unable to catch up midway through the set, however, Head Coach Vince Mangulabnan called for a time out, 15-19.
Immediately responding from the huddle, the AMVT mounted a 4-0 run to level the score at 19-all, highlighted by a Gutierrez block on Soaring Falcon Ahmed Tahiluddin. The teams then exchanged points leading up to set point, until Menor’s conversion forced a deuce, 24-24. Finally, Team Captain Salarzon scored off consecutive attacks to clinch the first set of the match, 28-26.
Remaining a steady presence, Okeke began the second set with an emphatic backrow attack, 1-0. Seizing momentum from the first set, Ateneo’s offense continued to flourish as Pacinio and Alejos’ aces and spikes built an early 7-3 advantage.
Countering the Blue Eagles’ aggressive blocking, the San Marcelino-based spikers utilized off-the-block hits to prevent Ateneo from extending the lead, 9-6. Adamson also began anticipating Okeke’s spikes, accumulating consecutive blocks on the outside hitter to further cut their deficit, 11-12.
Retaliating immediately in a 3-1 stretch, the Blue Eagles’ frontline summoned their own block point followed by cross-court kills from Pacinio and Okeke, 15-12. Reigning Most Valuable Player Kennedy Batas then stamped his presence in the match with an off-the-block hit, 17-14.
Despite Ateneo’s steady offense in the backend of the set, 22-19, Adamson’s fortified blocking sparked a 4-0 run capped off by a denial from West Garces, 22-23. Sensing urgency, Okeke executed an off-the-block hit, 23-23, but Ducusin immediately broke the deadlock with a through-the-block spike. Relentless on the offense, Okeke scored once more from the Adamson wall to force the extension, 24-24.
In the set extension, Ateneo fell victim to shaky reception and passing as Tahiluddin capitalized with two consecutive attacks, stealing the second set, 24-26.
Resolute to avenge the loss, Okeke swiftly converted a point with an off-the-block kill to start the third set, 1-0. Ateneo’s offense coupled with Adamson’s errors then saw both teams on equal footing, 6-all. Midway through the set, a 5-1 point barrage courtesy of Pacinio and Salarzon placed the Blue and White ahead with a small advantage, 14-13.
Still trading points off attacks and faults, Pacinio handed Loyola Heights an edge off an attack and a denial, 19-16. Winger triumvirate Batas-Salarzon-Pacinio kept up the momentum with their offensive output, forcing Adamsonian Head Coach Raffy Moseula to call for a time out at set point, 24-22. To the AMVT’s surprise, the Soaring Falcons came back with precise ball placement and formidable net defense to attain the lead, 25-24.
Adamant to gain set point, Okeke fired points off the Adamsonian net defenders, topped off by a block on Ducusin, 28-27. With the end in sight, Ateneo found no solution against the Ermita-based team’s counterattack, with Okeke being denied entry at the net by Ducusin, 28-30.
The fourth set saw both teams fatigued from the set extensions, exchanging multiple errors enroute to a 9-6 score in favor of Ateneo. The Blue Eagles were first to break out of their struggles as Pacinio, Salarzon, and Okeke connected from the wings to widen the gap, 14-7.
As Adamson’s errors persisted, Ateneo remained relentless in their attacking approach with Gutierrez activating middle blockers Alejos and Castro, 19-12. Despite holding a comfortable lead, the Soaring Falcons managed to stay within striking distance as the Blue Eagles’errors began to pile up, 23-19.
Adding to Ateneo’s woes, Pacinio exited the match after appearing to hurt his calf, which was then followed by an angled spike and down-the-line kill from Menor, 23-21. This momentum, however, was halted as Adamson’s service errors enabled Ateneo to force a fifth set, 25-22.
With the final set underway, the Blue Eagles immediately fell to a two-point disadvantage courtesy of Tahiluddin’s net dominance, 0-2. In response to the Soaring Falcons, the Ateneans orchestrated a 3-1 run to match their opponents’ pace, 3-3. Trading points until the midpoint of the set, Salarzon’s off-the-block kill allowed Ateneo to gain a one-point lead, 8-7.
As the Ateneo put faith in the strength of their veterans, Adamson’s young core exacted revenge with a 5-0 strike to place the Blue and White in the brink of defeat, 12-8. Undeterred to lose at the hands of the Soaring Falcons, Okeke powered through their net defense with consistent kills through the Adamsonian net defenders, 12-14.
However, the officials called a wrong server violation against Batas—a decision highly contested by the Katipuan-based squad. This ultimately resulted in Ateneo’s first loss of the season, 12-15.
Following this defeat, the AMVT looks to clinch their first victory against Katipunan rivals University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons on Sunday, February 22, at 9:00 AM in the same venue.
Box scores:
Ateneo (2): Okeke -23, Pacinio – 20 , Salarzon – 17 , Alejos – 10, Batas – 6, Castro – 4, Gutierrez – 2
AdU (3): Ducusin – 23, Menor – 17, Tahiluddin – 14, Coguimbal – 8, Garces – 8, Obeda – 3, Flestado – 2, Besorio – 1
Set scores:
Ateneo-AdU: 28-26, 24-26, 28-30, 25-22, 12-15
Current Standings (W-L):
- FEU Tamaraws (1-0)
- UP Fighting Maroons (1-0)
- AdU Soaring Falcons (1-0)
- Ateneo Blue Eagles (0-1)
- UE Red Warriors (0-1)
- DLSU Green Spikers (0-1)
- NU Bulldogs (0-0)
- UST Golden Spikers (0-0)
