THE ATENEO Blue Eagles were dispatched by the National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs in their latest University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 match, 19-25, 16-25, 15-25. The contest was held earlier today, March 28, at the University of Santo Tomas Quadricentennial Pavilion in the City of Manila.
With this loss, the Blue Eagles remain winless in the second round. Additionally, the Katipunan-based squad remains seventh in the standings with a 1-9 record.
The Blue Eagles were once again led by veteran Zel Tsunashima, who scored nine points off eight attacks and one service ace. Rookie Dona De Leon also put in a good showing, tallying eight points of her own.
Kicking off the match in resounding fashion, De Leon powered in the first two points for Ateneo with consecutive quick attacks, 2-1. However, the Lady Bulldogs readily responded, as duo Vange Alinsug and Ara Panique showcased their attacking prowess to put Ateneo behind, 3-4.
Setter KC Cortez continued to course the offense through her middle blockers, as Jihan Chuatico delivered a quick attack of her own, 6-8. Despite briefly losing their rhythm, 7-11, the Blue Eagles steadied behind strong service pressure, cutting the deficit to one, 12-13. With momentum in their favor, the Blue and White capitalized on the Bulldogs’ faulty passing, surging ahead at the second technical timeout, 16-15.
After both squads exchanged well-placed attacks to keep the contest tight, the Blue Eagles struggled to contain Sam Cantada, as the super rookie delivered back-to-back service aces to make Ateneo trail, 19-21. As the errors continued to pile up on the side of Ateneo, a final attacking error from Tsunashima closed the first set with the Blue Eagles faltering, 19-25.
The Blue and White failed to contain the Lady Bulldogs early in the set, with attacks and aces of NU’s Panique and Cantada placing the Sampaloc-based outfit in front, 1-3. Despite this, Ateneo embarked on a 3-0 run that ended with a power tip from Chuatico that sent the ball into an unmanned zone, 4-7.
Continuing the Katipunan-based squad’s offensive onslaught, Ana Hermosura led the way following the first technical timeout with three off-the-block points, 6-10. However, the Lady Bulldogs defense fronted by Camilla Lamina and Jenelyn Jacob left the Blue Eagles struggling to score. Although Ateneo struggled to score, several attempts translated into points for the Blue and White. A block point from De Leon as well as an ace from Tsunashima served as evidence of their efforts, 12-17.
Ateneo remained headstrong even with the increasing deficit. An emphatic shot from Chuatico ended up scoring the last few points of the set, 15-24. Although signs of life began to emerge from the Blue and White, the continued unforced errors proved too much to overcome. Eventually, a quick attack from Alinsug spelled defeat for the Blue Eagles in the second set, 16-25.
The struggles continued for the Blue Eagles at the onset of the third set, quickly falling behind at 1-3. Unable to penetrate the strong NU blockade, Ateneo found themselves trailing by three after Hermosura was denied above the tape, 5-8.
Multiple unforced errors from Ateneo further added to the squad’s problems, as De Leon’s attack from the middle sailed long, 6-12. Three straight errors from the Lady Bulldogs gave Ateneo a brief reprieve, as they entered the second technical timeout still trailing, 10-16.
A service ace from newly-inserted substitute Celine Marsh proved to be the early dagger, as the Blue Eagles’ hopes for a comeback slowly faded away, 12-19. Following another slew of errors from the Blue Eagles bringing the contest to match point, 15-24, the game-sealing point was delivered by Den Daylisan’s tip shot, 15-25.
The Blue Eagles’ next opportunity will come against their Katipunan neighbors, the UP Fighting Maroons, on Wednesday, April 8, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in the City of Pasay.
Box scores:
Ateneo (0): Tsunashima – 9, De Leon – 8, Chuatico – 7, Hermosura – 4, Pacia – 3, Delos Santos – 1
NU (3): Panique – 13, Cantada – 10, Alinsug – 6, Maaya – 6, Mata – 5, Lamina – 3, Escanlar – 2, Marsh – 2, Pono – 1, Jacob – 1, Daylisan – 1
Set scores:
Ateneo – NU: 19-25, 16-25, 15-25
Current Standings (W-L):
- DLSU Lady Spikers (9-0)
- NU Lady Bulldogs (7-3)
- FEU Lady Tamaraws (6-3)
- AdU Lady Falcons (6-4)
- UST Golden Tigresses (5-4)
- UP Fighting Maroons (4-5)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles (1-9)
- UE Lady Red Warriors (0-10)
