After narrowly missing the Final Four in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 85 Men’s Volleyball Tournament (MVT), the Ateneo Men’s Volleyball Team (AMVT) returns bolder and better. This weekly series will analyze the state of the Blue Eagles as they strive for a deeper run this time around.
ENTERING THE second round of the UAAP Season 86 Men’s Volleyball Tournament, the AMVT currently holds a 5-5 win-loss record and stands in fifth place. The Blue and White bowed before the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws in straight sets on March 17 and in five sets on April 4.
Quick to bounce back, the Blue Eagles tamed the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Spikers in another five-set thriller to open their second-round campaign on March 20. This was followed by proving their dominance over the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons in a five-set showmanship on March 24.
As the elimination round of the UAAP MVT is nearing its conclusion, The GUIDON Sports examines the AMVT’s performance during these games, specifically accounting for the flock’s abilities and points for improvement.
1. David and Goliath
Carmela: During their last bout in the first round of Season 86, Ateneo (3-4) had to face the top-seeded FEU Tamaraws (6-1) in hopes of boosting their overall slate. The two squads were able to put on an impressive showing through consistent deadlocks, especially at the start of the match. Ultimately, the Blue Eagles faltered under the Tamaraws’ defensive expertise which made them succumb in straight sets. Observingly, Ateneo was playing FEU’s game.
Statistics showed that the Morayta-based squad was the overall best spiking team among the Men’s pool with a 44.01% success rate, with Middle Blocker Martin Bugaoan as the best spiker (55.65%) and Outside Hitter Andrei Delicana as the fourth best spiker (44.02%).
Without a doubt, the Tamaraws have built a fortified shield that allowed them to come out on top in the season. However, looking at Ateneo’s numbers, the Blue Eagles have the means to take on a top-seeded squad.
Ateneo’s statistics revealed that the Blue Eagles find their distinct strength in reception and blocking, ranking second (50.45%) and fourth (2.26 average by set) overall, respectively. With team standouts Jian Salarzon, Kennedy Batas, and Lance De Castro, the Blue and White were able to up their status and retaliate with conversions of their own.
Salarzon was seated at seventh in the overall best scorer standings while Batas secured a spot at eighth. De Castro, on the other hand, was hailed the best receiver in the men’s league with a 70.43% efficiency. These numbers were reflected in the opening frame of the match wherein Salarzon and Batas extended Ateneo’s lead with down-the-line kills to 7-4, while libero De Castro became a crucial defensive player throughout the game.
Beyond question, Ateneo has the players to make a champion team. By finding the opponent’s kryptonite, the Blue Eagles will then be able to control the tempo of the game. FEU won against Ateneo by doing what they knew best, whereas the Katipunan-based squad should find the loophole in FEU’s armed walls.
2. Rising to the challenge
Rav: Despite a disappointing closer to the first round, the Ateneo Blue Eagles swiftly regained their flight, taking out the UST Golden Spikers and UP Fighting Maroons in two consecutive five-set series. These wins demonstrated that when the Blue Eagles are in their element, they are a team to be reckoned with. The Katipunan-based squad’s dominance over their opponents has been evident in the number of successful digs.
This statistical success would normally be attributed to S86 Best Libero Lance De Castro. However, early in the game against the Fighting Maroons, the Atenean skipper was sidelined because of a sprain. With questions already arising on the Blue Eagles’ play next year due to De Castro’s imminent departure, the game against UP offered a glimpse into the team’s future in lieu of the defensive stalwart.
Throughout the game, the absence of their leader on the court rattled the Blue and White. Particularly, during the 37th rally of set two when the Blue Eagles rushed their attacks against the Fighting Maroon defense. Due to them constantly aiming their spikes in predictable directions, the opposing squad was able to locate their blocks, 21-16.
Moreover, during the end stages of set number four, the Blue Eagles fumbled with their assignments, failing to contest UP’s Louis Gamban’s serve aimed at the backcourt, 23-19. With these errors, it was apparent that the Katipunan-based squad felt the missing defensive gravity that De Castro typically brings.
Yet even in the face of such obstacles, many players still rose to the occasion, filling the void left by number 13. One of them is Ateneo’s substitute libero Leuinuel Cristostomo, who achieved 11 excellent digs and 19 receives to outperform UP’s Johnlee Juntilla in the match. Backing up the burgeoning defensive specialist, hitters like Batas upped their offensive production to combine a total of 66 kills against the Katipunan rivals.
Overall, the Battle of Katipunan boasted a confident Blue and White squad who were willing to shoulder new responsibilities when commanded. This tenacity ultimately alleviates the fans’ worries about future departures—or even the underperformance of players—by understanding Ateneo’s capacity to soar above adversity.
3. Internalized frustrations
Jules: Midway through their contest last Thursday, the Blue Eagles soared high after gaining a two-set advantage over the FEU Tamaraws. In the second and third frames, the atmosphere on the Eagles’ side of the court reignited their fervor to dent the then 7-1 win-loss record of the Tamaraws. Stellar jump services by Amil Pacinio and Ryan Daculan led to disorganized receiving patterns by their opponent, resulting in service aces and attack points from the Ateneo’s front court.
However, what could have been their first triumph over the Morayta-based squad ended in internalized frustrations after conceding the fourth and fifth frames, therefore allowing the top-seeded team to achieve a five-set victory. During the fourth strophe, the Blue and White saw the accumulation of errors and denials at the net, consequently disturbing the flock’s formation. As the final set transpired, the Tamaraws forced another cat-and-mouse situation in an utter display of dominance, sending a loss down the Eagles’ record.
Errors continue to plague the Blue Eagles’ games whenever opponents establish a large lead. When attempting to minimize this run, blocked attacks, rushed sets, and miscalculated digs begin to pile up, thereby favoring their opponent.
On the contrary, a divergent narrative unfolded in their second face-off against the UST Golden Spikers, particularly during the final set. In a similar fashion of gliding past the España-based squad by securing the second and third frame, it all eventually led to a fifth-set showdown of grit and mindset after an extended fourth-strophe defeat. The Blue Eagle squad stayed calm and collected to gain the upper hand, fortifying a massive point cushion and ending the duel with a triumphant finish.
With four encounters to go in the elimination round, the Blue Eagles must remain level-headed when faced with huge deficits. Surpassing this shall dictate the winner of the game as Ateneo’s hopes for punching a ticket into the Final Four are not yet up in the air. Still in sight, the AMVT must continue to sharpen their talons and heighten their senses in order to improve their overall record.
Upcoming Games:
Wednesday, April 10, 12:00 PM, vs. National University Bulldogs at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Sunday, April 14, 10:00 AM, vs. University of the East Red Warriors at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Current Standings:
- FEU Tamaraws (9-1)
- NU Bulldogs (8-2)
- DLSU Green Spikers (7-3)
- UST Golden Spikers (6-4)
- Ateneo Blue Eagles (5-5)
- AdU Soaring Falcons (4-6)
- UE Red Warriors (1-9)
- UP Fighting Maroons (0-10)
