THE ATENEO Blue Eagles suffered their second loss of the 2025 V-League Collegiate Challenge Men’s Volleyball Tournament against the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws in four sets, 20-25, 25-22, 19-25, 22-25. The match was held earlier today, August 19, at the Paco Arena in Manila.
This loss places the Blue Eagles at fourth place with a 2-2 record midway through the tournament.
Ateneo fell into an early 0-4 hole in set one, as FEU’s Dryx Saavedra and Ariel Cacao dictated the tempo with their quick offense. Looking to counter, Jian Salarzon scored the Blue Eagles’ first points through off-the-block hits, 3-6. However, Ateneo’s service errors and net faults kept them at a deficit heading into the first technical timeout, 3-9.
Setter Enzo Gutierrez then activated Miguel Yu and Rodge Alejos, who penetrated the defense with a variety of kills, 8-13. Salarzon’s hustle from the wings also kept Ateneo within striking distance, but FEU’s Mikko Espartero countered with a cross-court kill to sustain their five-point lead at the second technical timeout, 16-11.
Coming off the huddle, the Tamaraws began to pull away behind Saavedra’s cross-court spikes, 18-12. While Yu and Salarzon continued to respond with their own attacks, the other Atenean spikers remained challenged by the elite blocking of FEU’s Doula Ndongala-led frontline. Capping off an all-around performance, Amet Bituin’s pipe attack gave FEU the first set, 25-20.
Eager to bounce back in the second set, the Katipunan-based squad jumped to a 3-0 start with Yu at the helm. However, the Blue Eagles’ lead quickly diminished, as costly errors on the second touch allowed the Tamaraws to close in, 8-7.
Following an exchange of errors from both squads, neither side could gain separation until Bituin’s down-the-line attack finally handed FEU the lead, 11-10. Ateneo quickly answered back through Pacinio, who kept the Blue Eagles within striking distance by mixing up his attacks.
Momentum continued to oscillate between the two teams, ending with Ateneo at the driver’s seat heading into the technical timeout, 16-15. Entering the home stretch, the Blue Eagles struggled to contain the Tamaraws’ late offensive surge. However, a string of service errors and net violations allowed Ateneo to maintain a slim cushion. Seizing the opportunity to close, Salarzon delivered a decisive down-the-line attack, handing the set to the Blue and White, 25-22.
The third set saw an even start to the period as both teams continued to struggle from the service line, 6-5 in favor of FEU. Pacinio and Bituin traded kills early on, while Gutierrez activated his middle blockers in hopes of breaking the Tamaraws’ stifling defense, 10-11.
Despite the back-and-forth affair, opposite hitters Bituin, Espartero, and Saavedra led the Morayta-based unit on a 5-0 burst, 16-10. Pacinio then halted the Tamaraws’ surge with a cross-court spike, which prompted a 3-1 run for the Blue Eagles, 13-17, but Bituin immediately responded by powering through the blue blockade, 18-13.
Similar to the opening frame, Ndongala’s presence at the net proved to be the difference in keeping Ateneo at bay as he provided crucial blocks and down-the-line spikes. With momentum on their side, the Tamaraws remained reliant on their cross-court approach as Saavedra delivered consecutive angled kills to put the set to bed, 25-19.
A sluggish start marked the fourth set as both squads traded miscues, keeping the score level at three apiece. Pacinio and Alejos’ successful kills nudged Ateneo ahead, 5-3, however, lapses in floor coverage allowed FEU to answer with powerful open hits from Bituin and Charles Absin. By the first technical timeout, the Blue Eagles clung to a slim 8-7 edge.
Errors and miscues continued to hound both squads, preventing either from pulling away as the score locked at 16-all deep into the fourth set. Hungry to extend the game, Pacinio rose to the occasion after a brief injury spell, firing a cross-court spike and following it up with a service ace to hand the Blue and White a 20-19 edge.
However, service errors once again served as Ateneo’s kryptonite, allowing FEU to mount a 3-0 run capped by an off-the-block spike from Espartero, 20-23. Despite a last-ditch effort from Pacinio and Yu, Bituin sealed the deal with a strong attack down the middle, handing Ateneo a 22-25 defeat.
The Blue Eagles will look to start a new winning streak against the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Blazers on Sunday, August 24, at 3:00 PM in the same venue.
Set scores:
Ateneo (1) – FEU(3) : 20-25, 25-22, 19-25, 22-25
Current Standings (W/L)
- UST Golden Spikers (3-0)
- DLSU Green Spikers (3-0)
- FEU Tamaraws (1-0)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles (2-2)
- CSJL Knights (1-2)
- NU Bulldogs (1-2)
- CSB Blazers (0-2)
- Arellano Chiefs (0-3)
