CONTINUING THEIR undefeated streak, the Blue Eagles outplayed the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, 25-18, 25-18, 25-18, on Saturday, September 16, at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
With the win, the Blue Eagles now boast a 5-0 record and have clinched a semifinals berth in the inaugural season of the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Men’s Collegiate Conference.
Gian Glorioso top-scored for Ateneo chalking up 13 points, seven of which were blocks. Also lighting up the board was Marck Espejo who contributed 12 points, including two service aces. Chu Njigha came up with nine points, while Rivera scored eight points recording nine out of ten excellent digs and ten out of 13 excellent receives.
Ateneo assistant coach Timmy Sto. Tomas took over as head coach Oliver Almadro did not show up due to personal commitments. Sto. Tomas started Karl Baysa, Chu Njigha, Ish Polvorosa, Marck Espejo, Gian Glorioso, John Rivera, and Manuel Sumanguid at libero.
Errors and miscommunication troubled the Blue Eagles at the start of the match allowing the Fighting Maroons to gain a small lead, 8-10. However, after the second technical timeout, the Blue and White shifted gears and started connecting their plays to take the lead following a UP service error, 17-15. From there, Ateneo started to pull away with good defensive and offensive plays from Espejo, Glorioso, and Rivera. Espejo eventually ended the set with a service ace, 25-18.
In the second set, the Fighting Maroons improved their offense to take an early lead, 3-7. With errors hindering the Blue Eagles, Ron Medalla was called upon from the bench to replace team captain Baysa. UP exploited Ateneo’s errors and continued to rack up easy points, 6-11. Coming off a timeout, the resilient Blue Eagles reorganized and slowly began to close the lead with the help of Espejo and Medalla, 10-12.
The Blue and White continued to push the Maroons with fast plays and strong blocks to tie the set after Polvorosa denied a UP attack, 12-12. From there, Ateneo did not give UP a chance to regain the lead as Njigha and Medalla stepped up to push the Blue Eagles ahead, 19-16. Ateneo pulled away and took the set through a drop ball from Glorioso, 25-18.
In the third set, the Blue Eagles started with a small lead after connecting on several plays, 8-5. However, the Fighting Maroons leveled out the score through successful attacks, 10-10. Thanks to excellent setting from Polvorosa, the Blue and White regained the lead following a service ace from Espejo, 16-12. Ateneo dictated the latter half of the third set with Glorioso denying UP several times and Medalla getting strong back row kills, 21-16. Glorioso closed out the match with a service ace, 25-18, as he has now taken match point in the last four games for the Blue Eagles.
When asked about Glorioso’s performance, assistant coach Sto. Tomas said, “We’ve been telling him ‘You’re a good player’. We’ve always been telling him na ito yung kaya mong gawin and happy kami na may lumabas siya kasi (this is what you can do, and we’re happy that you came out with it because) we’ve been challenging him.”
The next game for the Blue Eagles will be on September 23, at the FilOil Flying V Center in San Juan City against De La Salle University (DLSU).
Box Score
Ateneo: Glorioso – 13, Espejo – 12, Njigha – 9, Rivera – 8, Medalla – 7, Polvorosa – 6, Baysa – 2
UP: Miguel – 7, San Pascual – 6, Millete – 5, San Pedro – 4, Gohoc – 3, Baldelovar – 1, Consuelo – 1, Acuna – 1
