THE ATENEO Blue Eagles suffered a loss against the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Spikers after falling short of their fourth win in four sets, 22-25, 25-22, 17-25, 17-25. The match was held earlier today, September 6, at the Paco Arena in Manila.
This loss puts the Katipunan-based squad at a 3-3 win-loss record in the 2025 V-League Collegiate Challenge Men’s Volleyball Tournament.
The game opened with a tight first set against the Green Spikers. Although both squads executed commendable plays, points were traded early from service errors. Despite this, the Blue Eagles broke through with an early two-point lead, 6-4, after a DLSU service error and convincing blocks from Karl Corrigedor and Jian Salarzon.
Veteran Spiker Amil Pacinio broke through the Green Spikers’ wall, 11-8, but defensive lapses on the Ateneo floor allowed the Taft-based squad to regain momentum, 14-15. A pipe attack by Salarzon leveled the board at 15-15, but DLSU immediately responded with a denial at the net against Pacinio, 16-17.
The set remained tight with the Blue Eagles trailing behind by one point, 18-19, but they ultimately succumbed to their own errors, costing them the first set, 22-25.
The Blue Eagles struggled to find their footing as DLSU claimed an early lead in set two, 1-3. Determined to bounce back from the first set loss, Pacinio responded with an attack, while Rodge Alejos fortified the Ateneo wall to close the gap, 3-3. The two teams continued to score point-for-point, 5-6, but the Katipunan side seized control with consecutive kills coupled with errors from the Green Spikers, 9-6.
In an attempt to erase their deficit, DLSU’s Issa Ousseini delivered a vicious attack, sparking a shift in momentum for the Green Spikers, 10-9. However, Salarzon was quick to shut down DLSU’s comeback attempts with a powerful spike from the left wing, 11-9. Supplementing his teammate, Pacinio delivered a service ace, stretching the lead to three, 16-13.
Eager to secure the set, the Blue Eagles maintained their three-point lead as Miguel Yu delivered a down-the-line-attack, 18-15. DLSU’s Chris Hernandez attempted to break through, but was shut down with a block by Pacinio and Alejos, 20-17. Determined to sustain the lead, Pacinio delivered a sharp attack, 22-19. The Blue Eagles then gained a four-point lead after an attack error from the Green Spikers, 23-19. Pacinio then secured the set for Ateneo with a speedy kill, 25-22.
At the start of the third set, the Blue and White faced an early setback, 0-3, but Salarzon quickly shifted the tempo with a kill from the backrow, 1-3. Ateneo eventually closed the gap to 5-5 following an attack error from DLSU. Despite this, the Green Spikers racked up points after delivering a service ace and a strong block, 7-11. Yu then received a violation for reaching beyond the net, leaving the Blue Eagles at 8-12.
Despite Ateneo’s efforts to mend the deficit, the Green Spikers refined their attacking rhythm even further, with Eugene Gloria’s off-the-block hit capping DLSU’s run, 11-17. Struggling to recover, the Blue Eagles handed off points through numerous service errors, 17-24, giving DLSU’s Hernandez a chance to seal the set with an ace, 25-17.
The Green Spikers opened the fourth set to a quick 2-0 lead, but Ken Batas answered with a powerful attack to secure the first point for the Blue and White, 1-2. As Alejos closed the gap with a quick attack, 4-4, the Blue Eagles were able to gain a two-point lead after consecutive errors from the Green Spikers, 6-4.
However, the Blue Eagles’ advantage was short-lived as the Green Spikers executed a strategic offense to dismantle the Ateneo floor, 14-16. Despite the Katipunan-based squad securing a deadlock at 16-16, the Green Spikers went full throttle for a 9-1 run, eventually closing the match in their favor, 25-17.
Following this loss, the Blue Eagles will seek to redeem themselves as they face the Arellano University Chiefs tomorrow, September 7, at 3:00 PM in the same venue.
Ateneo (1) -DLSU (3): 22-25, 25-22, 17-25, 17-25
Current Standings (W-L):
- DLSU Green Spikers (6-0)
- UST Golden Spikers (5-1)
- FEU Tamaraws (3-2)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles (3-3)
- NU Bulldogs (2-3)
- CSJL Knights (2-3)
- CSB Blazers (1-4)
- AU Chiefs (0-6)
