THE ATENEO Blue Spikers, despite the absence of open spiker and Uappy Cup Most Valuable Player Ricci Gonzales, used a variety of attacks and intricate offensive sets to defeat their Adamson counterparts. The squad won in three consecutive sets, 25-23, 25-21, and 25-18, in their fourth match of the tournament held on Sunday, December 15, at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
Freshman phenom Marck Espejo was clearly the best player on the floor as he put on a dazzling display. Espejo scattered his game-high 18 points across all three sets through a variety of powerful spikes.
The entire match was virtually neck-and-neck as both teams failed to capitalize on their opponents’ errors with Ateneo committing 27 while Adamson had 28. Both squads struggled with their service as there was a point in the 2nd set where both teams exchanged four consecutive service errors. That streak did not end until Karlo Santos came in off the bench to score a service ace which helped Ateneo close the second set.
Gonzales, who opened the game for the Blue Spikers with a booming spike, would suffer a mild ankle sprain early in the second set, forcing him to sit out the rest of the game. The rest of his teammates led by Rex Intal and team captain Ysay Marasigan, however, provided enough scoring support for Espejo. Intal and Marasigan recorded 11 and 6 points respectively.
The Adamson tandem of Bryan Saraza and team captain Michael Sudaria, who each scored thirteen points for their team, wasn’t enough as their other teammates were limited to nine points amongst themselves. It also helped that Espejo continuously challenged the Adamson blockers, toying with their defense every now and then.
The victory gives the Blue Spikers their second win of the season and improves their win-loss record to 2-2.
The three-week layoff for the Holiday season will hopefully serve the Blue Spikers well. The squad will resume action on the fourth of January against defending champions National University.
ATENEO 75- Espejo 18, Intal 11, Marasigan 6, Villanueva 4, Flores 3, Polvorosa 2, Santos 1, Baysa 1, Gonzales 1, Bello 0, Pareja (L). Opponent’s Errors – 27
ADAMSON 62- Sudaria 13, Saraza 13, Consunji 4, Ramirez 2, Mallapre 2, David 1, Arante 0, Melgar (L).
