COMING FROM their opening day loss in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Beach Volleyball Tournament, the Ateneo Blue Eagles came away with a split of their two matches, 1-1. The Blue and White earned the victory over the Adamson University (AdU) Soaring Falcons, 2-0, but succumbed to the National University (NU) Bulldogs, 1-2, earlier this morning at the Sands at SM by the Bay.
vs ADU
Jian Salarzon and Amil Pacinio opened the match with consecutive power-throughs, exhibiting a commendable attack front for the Blue Eagles. Ateneo maintained point leads with Salarzon and Pacinio’s offensive hustles before Adamson called for time amid the influx of defensive errors on their side, 13-8. The power duo rattled the Manila-based team’s defensive lapses with their assertive attacks and secured their first set of the match, 21-10.
The second set paved the way for the impressive wing play of Salarzon and Pacinio, achieving a three point lead for the Blue Eagles. The consistent power-throughs and arduous digs of the Katipunan-based squad countered the relentless offensive performance of Dan Gutierrez and Francis Casas on the other side of the court. Eventually, the Blue Eagles clinched the match victory at the end of the second set battle, 21-13.
vs NU
The first canto opened with a slow start for the Blue Eagles, being faced with consecutive floor defense errors. Salarzon and Pacinio struggled to find rhythm amid the offensive attacks of the Manila-based squad. However, the Katipunan-based duo’s defensive hustle during long play rallies chipped in to their first lead of the set, 14-12. Finding their attacking rhythm, the Blue Eagles countered the equally strong attack front of NU with their timely defensive stops, banking the first set of the match, 21-17.
The faulty reception of the Blue and White characterized the beginning of the second set. When Salarzon and Pacinio found their rhythm, they sent timely and heavy kills to the sands of NU. Eager to regain momentum, Salarzon rattled the opponents with a down ball, finishing a long play rally. The renewed ardor of the Blue and White kept the squad alive despite the three point deficit, 9-12. Meanwhile, NU’s Alex Iraya and James Buytrago kept the scoreboard busy with continuous net domination, denying Ateneo a straight set win, 14-21.
Salarzon then opened the first three-setter match of the morning by firing a power-through attack. Chipping in to the scoreboard, both teams exhibited impressive offensive performances in the final frames of the match. However, despite the Blue Eagles’ strenuous feat, Ateneo handed NU match honors, 8-15.
This loss puts the Blue Eagles at a 1-2 win-loss record of round one of the UAAP Beach Volleyball Tournament.
Hoping to avenge the slow start, Ateneo looks to bounce back against the University of the East Red Warriors, tomorrow, 2:00 PM, at the same venue.
Set scores:
Ateneo vs. ADU: 21-10, 21-13
Ateneo vs NU: 21-17, 14-21, 8-15
