Defending champions the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles nailed their third win of the Spikers’ Turf Collegiate Conference, handing the National College of Business and Arts Wildcats their third straight loss 25-20, 25-16, 28-26 in Group B at the PhilSports Arena.
Ateneo easily took the first two sets, outclassing NCBA in every category especially on serving and serve reception. The Blue Eagles momentum, however, halted in the early going of the third set due to untimely errors. Ateneo head coach Oliver Almadro also opted to have most of his main rotation players sit the set out to expose his younger bench players.
“That’s the procees we have to go through in this tournament – I want my younger players to get more exposure and to get a sense na whenever they’re put into the game, they need to contribute right away,” Almadro insisted.
The third set dragged all the way into a deuce with the Wildcats stopping their own run with an error, settig up an Ateneo combination play to end the match.
The defending UAAP champs outpaced the Wildcats in every scoring skill – 39-23 in spikes, 7-2 in block kills, and 6-4 in aces – but surrendered 33 errors to NCBA’s 26.
Two-time Spikers’ Turf MVP Marck Espejo led the Blue Eagles with 12 points on 11 for 16 attacking. American Tony Koyfman added 11 markers off eight kills and three blocks.
“So far, I’ve been impressed with all my players. I want more of my veterans to be leaders and take on that responsibility of guiding the team in this tournament and so far nakaka-adjust naman sila,” Almadro added.
Jason Canlas and Ferdan Guanzon towed the NCBA offense with eight points apiece.
With a 3-0 record, the Blue Eagles top Group B while the 0-3 Wildcats lag at the bottom.
Ateneo will next face UAAP rivals University of Santo Tomas Tiger Spikers (2-0) on August 20, 12 nn at the FilOil Flying V Centre. NCBA tries for their first win against the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals (0-2) on August 24, 12 nn at the PhilSports Arena.
The Scores
ADMU (3) – Espejo 12, Koyfman 11, Baysa 8, Villanueva 6, Glorioso 5, Polvorosa 4, Intal 2, Magadia 0, Regala 0, Trinidad 0, Sumanguid (L)
NCBA (0) – Canlas 8, Guanzon 8, Oclima R. 4, Oclima C. 3, Nidua 2, Valenzuela 2, Nullar 1, Gabutero 1, Vicente (L)
