The three-peat seeking Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles did not let up in Game One of the 2017 PVL Men’s Collegiate Conference Finals, sweeping the Far Eastern University Tamaraws, 25-22, 25-20, 25-19, Wednesday morning at the Filoil Flying V Centre.
“Sabi ko nga naman yung energy ng FEU yun ang bread and butter nila. They live and die with their energy, with their intensity,” shared Ateneo’s grand slam-seeking mentor Oliver Almadro. “So if we will match up with that intensity magkakaroon ng magandang game.”
Pacing the Blue Eagles was middle blocker Gian Glorioso. The 6-foot-5 spiker tallied 15 markers, 11 from attacks, three from blocks, and an ace.
But the Tamaraws were able to keep close with the defending champions early in the third set, tying the game at 13-all. However, Marck Espejo — who is also playing for Ateneo’s Beach Volleyball team — was able to score on a couple of aces to give Ateneo a three-point cushion.
Ateneo would then lead by as much as five points, 23-18, before an Espejo block on Raymond Bautista sealed the win.
The three-time V-League MVP added 14 points on 11 attacks, a block, and two aces.
“We have to level up with our intensity and nung lumevel up kami medyo gumanda-ganda ang galaw and they tried to force fast plays sa amin,” added Almadro. “Noong una medyo nanibago but of course through little rallies nakukuha naman.”
Sophomore Chumason Njigha and Ishmael Rivera chipped in seven markers each, while Ish Polvorosa tossed 30 excellent sets.
JP Bugaoan and RJ Paler led FEU with 13 and 11 markers each.
Game Two will be held on Saturday, October 14, at 10:00am, while the awarding for individual honors takes place after the contest.
In the third place game, Joshua Umandal tallied his career-high of 28 points to tow the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers past the skidding National University Bulldogs in five sets, 25-17, 28-26, 25-21, 25-21, 27-25.
The Bulldogs were without their beach volleyball players Bryan Bagunas and James Natividad.
Open hitter Madz Gampong powered NU with 25 points while Fauzi Ismail added 20 markers.
The Scores:
Finals:
ADMU (3) – Glorioso 15, Espejo 14, Njigha 7, Rivera 7, Medalla 6, Baysa 4, Polvorosa 2, Trinidad 0, Sumanguid (L).
FEU (0) – Bugaoan 13, Paler 11, Dablo 6, Quiel 4, Bautista 3, Provido 2, Silang 2, Salabsab 1, Suarez 0, Garcia (L).
Bronze medal series:
UST (3) – Umandal 28, Bautista 10, Buro 9, Sumagaysay 7, Corda 6, Icalina 6, Carodan 6, Tajanlangit T. 4, Valenzuela 3, Medina 3, Casillan 1, Tajanlangit J. 0, Millado 0, Sawal (L).
NU (2) – Gampong 25, Ismail 20, Ogoc 12, Saura 11, Malabunga 10, Dayandante 3, Mondero 1, Ancheta 1, Marcos (L).
