THE ATENEO Men’s Volleyball Team (AMVT) concluded its first round campaign in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 with a clean sweep of the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors, 25-21, 25-19, 25-16. The game was held earlier today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
This win consequently places the Blue Eagles at the fifth spot of the standings, with a 4-3 win-loss record.
Displaying his impressive playmaking, veteran setter Lorenzo Gutierrez was hailed as the Player of the Game with 18 excellent sets. Gutierrez’s ball distribution fueled Ateneo’s offense, with top-scorer Kennedy Batas delivering a 15-point tally. Meanwhile, Amil Pacinio and Jian Salarzon chipped in 13 and 12 markers, respectively.
Salarzon opened the match with consecutive attacks to set the pace for the Blue Eagles, 3-2. Red Warriors Roy Piojo and John Aligayon responded by converting kills to rattle the Ateneo defense and denying a Batas attempt, 6-4. Despite the pushback, the Blue and White orchestrated a 6-1 run, highlighted by a Pacinio tip over the blockers and a Brian Castro quick down the middle, 14-10.
The Loyola Heights-based squad maintained the upper hand throughout the set, as Jett Gopio’s powerful jump serve put UE at a disadvantage, 19-17. Eager to clinch the set victory, the Blue Eagles clawed through the Recto-based team’s defense, withCastro handing Ateneo set point after a block, 24-19. Despite last-minute efforts to extend the match, UE’s Kart Lascuña’s service error gave the Blue and White the first set, 25-21.
Following their strong opener, the Blue Eagles returned to the taraflex for the second set with improved reception, allowing them to go on to a 2-0 start. The Blue and White’s rhythm allowed them to capitalize on their offensive upper hand to maintain their advantages in the opening frames of the second set, 4-2.
With an influx of errors from UE, the trio of Batas, Castro, and Gopio asserted their aggressive attack front from all sides of the court to secure scoring opportunities, 7-4. As the Red Warriors quickly broke the momentum with Piojo’s attack from the back row, the show of mastery consequently brought both teams to an equalizer, 8-8.
Despite gallant showing from both ends of the court, Castro ultimately spearheaded the tug for dominance with his quick attacks, 11-10. Pacinio and Salarzon also complemented Castro’s extensive, as the wing hitters produced sharp-angled attacks in the front line, 17-11. As the Katipunan-based wingers maintained offensive control, the Blue Eagles furnished the backend of the set with a five-point advantage, 21-16.
Remaining consistent in the final sequences of the set, coupled with stellar offense from Pacinio, the Blue Eagles eventually took a 2-0 set advantage, 25-19.
Looking to take their first sweep of the season, Ateneo sustained their pristine form by immediately establishing a five-point cushion over the Red Warriors, 8-3, topped off by Pacinio’s off-the-block kill. A 5-1 run then followed in favor of the Blue Eagles, as Batas converted on the left pin, while Gutierrez guarded Piojo at the net to further pull away, 13-6.
Down by seven points, the Red Warriors attempted to mount a comeback with an aggressive front, capitalizing on Raquim Aceron’s offense to limit Ateneo’s lead, 13-18. However, Ateneo continued to assert dominance through a Gopio block on Aceron and back-to-back aces from Pacinio, 23-14. An attack error from the side of the Red and White then handed Ateneo their first clean sweep of the season, 25-16.
After the results of today’s match, the AMVT looks to rise higher in the standings, with the second elimination round schedule to be released on a later date.
Box scores:
Ateneo (3): Batas – 15, Pacinio – 13, Salarzon – 12, Castro – 7, Gopio – 7, Gutierrez – 2
UE (0): Aceron – 14, Piojo – 8, Camaymayan – 4, Pozas – 3, Sison – 3, Aligayon – 2
Set scores:
Ateneo-UE: 25-21, 25-19, 25-16
Current Standings (W-L):
- FEU Tamaraws (6-0)
- NU Bulldogs (5-1)
- UST Golden Spikers (4-2)
- DLSU Green Spikers (4-2)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles (4-3)
- AdU Soaring Falcons (1-5)
- UP Fighting Maroons (1-5)
- UE Red Warriors (0-7)
