THE ATENEO Blue Eagles dropped their season opener in the 2025 V-League Collegiate Challenge Men’s Volleyball Tournament after stumbling against the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Spikers in three sets, 19-25, 17-25, 19-25. The match took place earlier today at the Ynares Arena, Pasig City.
Stepping into a starting role this preseason, Eijra Taluban got the Blue Eagles off to a fiery start, as the setter’s excellent play from the service line earned Ateneo an early 2-0 advantage. Team Captain Jian Salarzon continued to put pressure on the UST defense, scoring consecutive down-the-line attacks to keep his squad ahead, 5-3.
As newcomer Leinuel Crisostomo’s passing kept Ateneo in system, the attacking duo comprising Salarzon and Miguel Yu continued to dominate at the net. However, unforced errors from the Blue Eagles quickly derailed their momentum, bringing UST ahead, 9-12.
Despite Salarzon’s commanding performance in the first set, the Katipunan-based unit’s struggles from service extended their deficit, 11-15. As UST’s Gboy De Vega soared for a thunderous cross-court hammer, Ateneo found the first set slipping away, 16-21. Consecutive backrow attacks from Yu looked to spark the Blue and White, however, De Vega delivered a backrow attack of his own to seal the set, 19-25.
The second set progressed with the Blue Eagles on an equally aggressive attack front with the Golden Spikers. As Alejos established the momentum for Ateneo with a single block, UST’s Dux Yambao quickly answered with a fiery crosscourt attack, 2-2.
Unperturbed by the opposition’s impressive showing, Blue Eagle Karl Reyes delivered a statement attack to tally his first point in the match. Despite Reyes’ extensive efforts to gain advantages for his team, the Golden Spikers swiftly broke their momentum by tallying four straight points, 1-4.
As the defensive lapses of Ateneo persisted, Reyes and Karl Corregidor helped trim the UST lead with an off-the-block attack and a drop fresh from the huddle, 5-9. However, despite Reyes and Corregidor’s offensive burst, the Blue Eagles remained unable to reestablish in-game rhythm. Falling to a five-point deficit, Ateneo stepped up, as Salarzon and rookie Paolo Medino fired attacks from all ends of the court.
Capitalizing on UST’s errors from the service line, Salarzon spearheaded the attack front, powering through long rallies, 14-18. However, the Golden Spikers’ comfortable lead, coupled with Al-Bukharie Sali’s heavy crosscourt smashes, paved the way for their second set victory in the match, 25-17.
Determined to deliver a turnaround, the Blue Eagles progressed in the third set with improved in-court chemistry. With rookie Preece Atendido stepping up and Reyes delivering fresh from the bench, Ateneo exhibited excellent offensive performance in the set’s opening frames, 3-4.
An influx of errors from the Golden Spikers also allowed the Blue Eagles to polish their offensive output, as Reyes scored back-to-back points for the Blue and White, 15-12.
The improved in-court chemistry of the Blue Eagles orchestrated Salarzon’s impressive wing play from the left side of the court, 17-20. However, Yambao answered this with a combination play, 17-21.
Despite Alejos’ crucial match-point save at the tail end of the third set, the Blue Eagles’ efforts fell to the hands of a dominant De Vega combination play, 19-25.
Following this defeat, the Blue Eagles aim to bounce back in their match against the Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights on Sunday, August 10, at 5 PM in Paco Arena, Manila.
Set scores:
Ateneo (0) – UST (3): 19-25, 17-25, 19-25
Current Standings (W/L)
- NU Bulldogs (1-0)
- UST Golden Spikers (1-0)
- DLSU Green Spikers (0-0)
- FEU Tamaraws (0-0)
- CSJL Knights (0-0)
- CSB Blazers (0-0)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles (0-1)
- Arellano Chiefs (0-1)
