THE ATENEO Blue Eagles stormed back into the win column, snapping the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Spikers’ four-game hot streak in a fierce four-set battle, 25-20, 25-22, 25-22, 25-21. The high-stakes clash unfolded earlier today at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Player of the Game Amil Pacinio stepped up in Ateneo’s four-set victory, chipping in 17 points off 14 attacks, two blocks and an ace. Kennedy Batas also continued his stellar showing this season with a game-high 21-point performance. Jian Salarzon also contributed 12 points to round out Ateneo’s balanced attack.
On the other side, Jan Julian Macam led the Golden Spikers with 14 points, while Jay Rack De La Noche added 12 to bolster UST’s offense.
Ateneo’s offense fired on all cylinders early in the first set as back-to-back points, coupled with a string of UST errors, gave the Blue Eagles enough breathing room. A swift attack from Jett Gopio further pushed Ateneo’s momentum, keeping them ahead at 8-6.
Although both teams traded blows, the Katipunan-based squad’s sharp ball distribution and defensive tenacity kept them in control. With the Golden Spikers on the offensive, the Blue Eagles held their ground, restoring a four-point cushion, 21-17. Pacinio then capped off the dominant stretch with a smooth setup for Batas, who hammered home the set-winner and secured the early advantage for the Blue and White, 25-20.
The Blue Eagles opened the second set with a strong defensive stand, but the Golden Spikers quickly answered back with attacks through the gaps to race to a brief 3-2 lead. Despite the challenge, Ateneo wasted no time regaining control with sharp kills and steady floor defense, keeping them ahead, 8-5.
Refusing to back down, UST continued to pounce on Ateneo’s miscues to turn the tide in their favor. Just as the España camp looked poised to extend their lead, back-to-back blocks against Gboy De Vega flipped the momentum, propelling the Katipunan unit to a three-point advantage.
Batas continued to deliver in crunch time, striking down straight points to bring Ateneo to set point. Although UST fought to stay alive, Pacinio’s final spike put the Blue Eagles in full control with a 2-0 lead, 25-22.
Both units then engaged in a tightly contested third set, trading points early on the floor. Despite Ateneo’s strong start, UST pulled ahead with back-to-back kills from Paul Colinares, building a 16-12 lead.
Although the Katipunan camp mounted the challenge, their adversaries found answers at the net, regaining the edge off a block touch call, 20-19. A flurry of service errors from both sides kept the score tight, but a well-timed UST combination play pushed them to 23-21.
Batas struck once more to trim the lead, but a costly attack error handed the Golden Tigers set point, 24-22. UST then delivered the final swing with a back-row hit, slipping past Ateneo’s block to keep their hopes alive, 25-22.
The fourth set saw an exchange of blows before the Golden Spikers momentarily gained the upper hand. However, costly errors from UST kept the Blue Eagles within striking distance, setting up a deadlock at 15-all.
Salarzon then took charge, sparking an Ateneo surge with crucial attacks and solid defensive stands. A well-placed hit capped off a 5-0 run, giving the Blue Eagles a commanding 19-15 lead. Pacinio then found gaps in UST’s defense to widen the cushion before hammering down consecutive kills, keeping Ateneo in control.
Although the Golden Tigers fought hard for a late comeback, a perfectly timed setup to Pacinio sealed the deal, as the Blue Eagles soared to a four-set victory, 25-21.
The Blue Eagles will look to keep their momentum going as they take on the De La Salle University Green Spikers on Wednesday, March 12, at 11:00 AM at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Box scores:
Ateneo (3): Gutierrez – 2, Gopio – 4, Batas – 21, Pacinio – 17, Salarzon – 12, Corregidor – 6
UST (1): De Vega – 11, Macam – 14, Yambao – 3, Colinares – 11, De La Noche – 12, Valera – 7, Sali – 3, Gupiteo – 3
Set scores:
Ateneo-UST: 25-19, 25-22, 25-22, 25-21
Current Standings (W/L)
- FEU Tamaraws (6-0)
- NU Bulldogs (3-1)
- UST Golden Spikers (4-2)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles (3-2)
- DLSU Green Spikers (2-2)
- AdU Soaring Falcons (1-4)
- UP Fighting Maroons (1-4)
- UE Red Warriors (0-6)
