THE ATENEO Men’s Volleyball Team absorbed their fourth loss of the season after faltering against six-peat seeking champions National University (NU) Bulldogs via sweep, 22-25, 23-25, 22-25. The contest was held earlier today, March 8, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
This defeat positions the Blue Eagles at fourth place with a 2-4 win-loss record in the first elimination round of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 Men’s Volleyball Tournament.
Leading the way for the Blue and White was reigning Most Valuable Player (MVP) Kennedy Batas, who garnered 13 points off 11 attacks, one block, and one ace, alongside 10 excellent receptions. On the side of the Bulldogs, Player of the Game Jade Disquitado accumulated 16 markers on 15 kills and one deflection, coupled with 11 excellent receptions.
In the opening frame, Team Captain Jian Salarzon’s attack went long, placing Ateneo behind, 0-1. Despite an early service error from NU’s Buds Buddin keeping the deficit at one, 2-3, the Blue Eagles struggled to contain Bulldog Leo Ordiales’ ace, increasing their gap at 3-6. Still keeping themselves within striking distance, however, Brian Castro and Salarzon quickly executed consecutive blocks, 7-8.
As NU’s Ordiales delivered back-to-back attacks for a comfortable upper hand, Aimar Okeke responded with a backrow hit to keep the scores close, 8-10. However, Ateneo struggled to deny Bulldog Peng Taguibolos’ attack at 9-14. Rodge Alejos then stepped up and unleashed a quick attack for the Blue and White, 12-15. Carrying this drive, Batas rose to the occasion with a cross-court hit to counter NU Obed Mukaba’s conversions, 14-17.
Despite the hustle, Ateneo fell prey to Buddin’s off-the-block hit, 16-19. Still, Okeke refused to surrender, dropping a tip at 19-20. Amil Pacinio remained steady as the opposite hitter converted a diagonal hit, 21-22, but soon after, the Blue Eagles failed to counter NU’s Disquitado and Mukaba’s offensive prowess, falling in the first set, 22-25.
Entering the second set, the Blue Eagles fell before a Buddin-led outburst on an attack and service ace, 0-3. In spite of the NU lead, the Ateneans orchestrated a 5-1 counter-run courtesy of Okeke’s calculated shots and Castro’s service proficiency, 5-4. Veteran Okeke continued his efficiency for the Blue and White, nailing consecutive attacks to gain a two-point cushion, 8-6.
With both units exchanging errors midway through the set, Batas’ one-man block on Ordiales leveled the score at 10-all. Batas then produced back-to-back points on a kill and service ace, 14-12. Keeping the upper hand, Alejos followed through with a quick hit off Mukaba’s block, 17-15.
In response, the Gold and Blue exacted a 4-1 rally that concluded through a three-man block on Okeke’s backrow attempt, 18-18. Exchanging points at the tail end of the set, miscommunication between Enzo Gutierrez and Alejos saw the Bulldogs with a slim lead, 22-23. Although Ordiales committed an error, Ateneo fell short of containing the offensive outputs of Disquitado and Buddin, which resulted in another set loss, 23-25.
Feeling the pressure early in the third canto, the Blue Eagles could not respond to NU Disquitado’s backrow hit, 0-1. Ateneo then relied on Bulldog Greg Ancheta’s service error to gain their first point, 1-2. To spark life in the Blue and White floor, Pacinio drew up an off-the-block kill and a cross-court attack, evening the frame at 5-5.
Grounded in this newfound force, Batas came through and crafted an off-the-block hit to surge Ateneo in front, 7-6. However, NU’s Disquitado promptly answered back with an off-the-block kill, making Ateneo fall behind, 7-8. The Katipunan-based squad also committed a net fault, increasing their deficit at 7-10.
Batas then rectified the situation by forging a drop, 10-11. Castro and Salarzon also fortified the Blue Eagles’ effort with three consecutive block points to gain the edge, 14-13. Regardless, Bulldog Mukaba responded with his own defensive conversion, making Ateneo surrender control at 15-16. Matters further worsened as Alejos’s attack sailed long, 16-20.
Towards the end of the match, the Blue and White failed to resist NU Mukaba’s back-to-back block points, 18-23. Regardless of Castro’s attempt to catch up through defense, Ateneo eventually fell to Bulldog Buddin’s off-the-block kill at 22-25.
Intending to close out the first round of eliminations with a victory, the Blue Eagles will face the University of the East Red Warriors on Saturday, March 14, 9:00 AM in the SM Mall of Asia Arena at the City of Pasay.
Box scores:
Ateneo (0): Batas – 13, Castro – 9, Okeke – 8, Alejos – 7, Pacinio – 7, Salarzon – 4, Gutierrez – 2
NU (3): Disquitado – 16, Buddin – 12, Ordiales – 11, Mukaba – 8, Taguibolos – 4, Ancheta – 3
Set scores:
Ateneo-NU: 22-25, 23-25, 22-25
Current Standings (W-L):
- FEU Tamaraws (6-0)
- NU Bulldogs (5-1)
- UST Golden Spikers (3-1)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles (2-4)
- UP Fighting Maroons (2-3)
- AdU Soaring Falcons (1-3)
- UE Red Warriors (1-4)
- DLSU Green Spikers (0-4)
