THE ATENEO Beach Volleyball Teams conceded all their matches on day three of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 Beach Volleyball Tournament. The three games were held earlier today, November 23, at the Sands at SM by the Bay in the City of Pasay.
In the morning, the Ateneo Women’s Beach Volleyball Team (AWBVT) succumbed to defending champions National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs in straight sets, 0-2. Later on, the Ateneo Men’s Beach Volleyball Team (AMBVT) faltered before the Season 87 silver medalists NU Bulldogs, 0-2, and then endured another sweep against reigning six-time gold medalists University of Santo Tomas (UST) Tiger Sands.
Women’s match vs. NU
To commence the third day of the UAAP Beach Volleyball Tournament, Blue and White representatives Grydelle Matibag and Ten Quimpo challenged the Season 87 gold medalists Kath Epa and Honey Cordero.
The opening set saw the Blue Eagles attempt to match the Lady Bulldogs’ pace. Matibag gained the first point of the match after a tip to NU’s unguarded front court, 1-0. Quimpo then followed with an off-speed kill to expose the Gold and Blue’s destabilized defense, 2-1. However, Ateneo suffered a 5-0 run spearheaded by reigning Most Valuable Player Cordero, leading to a four-point deficit, 2-6.
Quimpo swiftly responded with calculated kills and a service ace, while Matibag scored on a cut shot to limit NU’s advantage, 7-10. In spite of Ateneo’s counter-attack, the Blue Eagles fell to Cordero’s unpredictable serves, resulting in an eight-point disadvantage, 9-17. Matibag then converted a point on an off-speed hit, but ultimately lost the set to the Lady Bulldogs following an offensive error, 11-21.
Undeterred by the Lady Bulldogs’ set advantage, Quimpo utilized the open corners of the Gold and Blue’s sands for a cross-court shot, 3-1. A string of faults, however, rattled the Katipunan-based squad’s momentum, but Matibag further challenged NU’s reception for a service ace, 3-5. Subsequently, the ace committed a double contact violation, 4-9.
Looking to cut the growing deficit, Quimpo delivered a soft touch that caught Epa off guard, 7-13. Despite fortunate instances, the Blue Eagles weathered two power tips from Cordero that placed them into a defensive slump, 8-18. Ultimately, the efforts of the Atenean dyad were insufficient to contain the Lady Bulldogs’ putaway, resulting in a 12-21 finish.
Men’s match vs. NU
For their first bout of the day, Ateneans Amil Pacinio and Jian Salarzon entered the sands to battle podium finishers NU Bulldogs Alex Iraya and Sky Gemarino.
Both teams exchanged points at the onset of the match, highlighted by Salarzon’s aggressive hit that tore the Gold and Blue’s defense, 3-2. Ateneo then lost points to Iraya and Gemarino, who capitalized on the Blue and White’s net defense, 6-12. With an increasing deficit stacked against them, Salarzon’s offensive onslaught proved effective for the Blue Eagles following successive point conversions, 10-13.
Sustaining the Bulldogs’ unresolved lapses, Salarzon produced the next five points off attacks and a block to trim the disadvantage by one, 15-16. Pacinio also converted offensive attempts in the next sequences, gaining a one-point lead over NU, 18-17. Approaching the end of the opening set, however, Ateneo succumbed to Gemarino’s power, who ended the first set with a block over Salarzon, 19-21.
From the outset of the second canto, Salarzon and Pacinio received free points off the Bulldogs’ errors at the net, 3-0. Salarzon capitalized on the opening and delivered drop balls behind Gemarino, boosting the Blue Eagles’ synergy, 6-2. The veteran duo then endured back-to-back service aces and a regalo from the Jhocson-based unit, 6-9.
A service fault from Iraya gave the Blue and White an opportunity to turn things around, 7-9. Pacinio took matters into his own hands with a corner-clinching attack to force a deadlock, 10-10. Adding salt to the wound, Salarzon delivered an emphatic down-the-line which pressured NU’s defense, 11-11.
After an affair of kills, the Atenean dyad found their feet locked on the sands after a service ace from Iraya, 11-13. Salarzon and Pacinio failed to contain the instrumental plays of the Bulldogs, which ultimately led to the second set’s finish courtesy of a Pacinio attack error, 14-21.
Men’s match vs. UST
The final match of the day saw the return of Pacinio and Salarzon in their contest against Alche Gupiteo and Dominique Gabito of the UST Tiger Sands.
In a battle between aces, Salarzon garnered the first two points for the Blue Eagles off a straight hit and cross-court shot, 2-0. The highly-contested set allowed Salarzon to consistently produce points for the Blue and White, as the Atenean overpowered the Tiger Sands duo with relentless offense, 6-5. Midway through the set, however, the Katipunan-based unit was silenced by the combined efforts of Gabito and Gupiteo.
The Salarzon-Pacinio duo were subdued by Gupiteo’s heroics, topped off by the Tiger Sands’ attack, 9-14. Pacinio then responded with a cross-court hit to hinder UST’s momentum, 12-16. While Salarzon clinched the following two points, the Blue and White failed to stop the Gold and Black’s 5-0 run to end the first set in their favor, 14-21.
In the second frame, a feather-touch attack by Pacinio caught the Tiger Sands’ defense off guard as the Blue Eagles worked to look for their rhythm and level the match at one set apiece, 1-2. Realizing their plays were becoming predictable, Salarzon tightened the contest by going for sharp cut shots instead of power, driving his team ahead, 6-5.
A variety of attacks came from both squads as they traded points. Spotting gaps in the UST sands, Salarzon powered through the yellow blockade to edge ahead, 10-9. The reliable veteran continued to deliver with precise placement shots, assisted by Pacinio’s quick setting, bringing the score to a deadlock once again, 16-16.
Lifting the morale of the Atenean duo, Salarzon clinched a tough joust against Gabito to reclaim the lead, 17-16. However, after Gupiteo hammered a down-the-line kill to even the score at 17-17, consecutive errors from Salarzon and Pacinio handed UST a crucial two-point cushion, 17-19. The Katipunan-based squad then struggled to contain Gupiteo’s explosive spike, ultimately handing out the set to the Gold and Black, 18-21.
Looking to bounce back from consecutive drubbings, the Blue Eagles are determined to return to the winning column. The AWBVT will face the Adamson University Lady Falcons and the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws at 10:45 AM and 5:00 PM, respectively. Meanwhile, the AMBVT will aim to clinch victory over Katipunan rivals University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons at 4:15 PM. All matches will be held on Friday, November 28, at the same venue.
Set scores:
Women’s Division
Ateneo (0) – NU (2): 11-21, 12-21
Men’s Division
Ateneo (0) – NU (2): 19-21, 14-21
Ateneo (0) – UST (2): 14-21, 18-21
Current Standings (W-L):
Women’s Division
- UST Tiger Sands (5-0)*
- NU Lady Bulldogs (5-0)*
- UP Fighting Maroons (3-1)
- Ateneo Blue Eagles (2-2)
- FEU Lady Tamaraws (2-2)
- AdU Lady Falcons (1-3)
- DLSU Lady Spikers (0-5)
- UE Lady Warriors (0-5)
Men’s Division
- UST Tiger Sands (5-0)*
- NU Bulldogs (5-0)*
- AdU Soaring Falcons (2-2)
- FEU Tamaraws (2-2)
- Ateneo Blue Eagles (2-3)
- UP Fighting Maroons (1-3)
- DLSU Green Spikers (1-3)
- UE Red Warriors (0-5)
* – clinched Final Four berth
