Amil Pacinio delivered in the clutch as Ateneo de Manila University pushed University of the Philippines to the brink of elimination, 25-23, 22-25, 23-25, 25-18, 15-7, in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Men’s Volleyball Tournament on Wednesday morning at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
The Season 87 Best Opposite Spiker caught fire in the fifth set, scoring six points during the Blue Eagles’ 10-3 start to the decider. Ateneo rallied from a 1-2 set deficit to secure a crucial win, keeping its Final Four hopes alive.
The victory lifted Ateneo to a temporary solo fourth place with a 6-5 record ahead of a pivotal showdown against the De La Salle University Green Spikers this Saturday, April 11, at the Filoil Centre in San Juan.
De La Salle, meanwhile, sits just behind Ateneo at 5-5 before facing league-leader Far Eastern University in a game ongoing as of publishing.
The Blue Eagles also overcame a 13-18 deficit in the first set.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“We’ve always reminded them that the grit is always there, but we had to shake them up lang nung simula na they are actually the better players inside the court. Kailangan lang talaga nila maalala yung pinaghandaan nila,” said Blue Eagles assistant coach Tomie Rivera.
After UP captured the second and third sets, Ateneo methodically fought back, dominating the fourth set with timely attacks from Nigerian wing spiker Aimar Okeke, Enzo Gutierrez, and rookie middle blocker Rodge Alejos.
In the fifth set, Pacinio emerged as the difference-maker.
He opened the decider with six clutch points, capped by two crosscourt hits, helping Ateneo build an insurmountable 10-3 lead. UP cut the deficit to 11-7, but Pacinio finished what he started, scoring an off-speed hit and a block. Okeke added a crosscourt kill, and Eijra Taluban delivered the game-winning ace, closing the thrilling five-set duel in two hours and eight minutes.
“Nasa puso at isip ko [noong fifth set] na it’s now or never na talaga. It might be my last season na talaga, so kailangan na talaga mag-all out and ipakita sa team na kaya namin,” said Pacinio, who finished with 25 points on 20 attacks, three blocks, and two aces, along with six excellent digs.
Okeke supported with 16 points on 15 attacks, 10 excellent receptions, and three excellent digs. Team captain Jian Salarzon added 13 points on 12 attacks, 15 excellent receptions, and eight excellent digs. Alejos contributed nine points on six attacks and three blocks, while Julio Yu tallied eight points and 12 excellent receptions.
Gutierrez battled cramps to dish out 19 excellent sets and four points, while Lance de Castro had 14 excellent receptions and 13 excellent digs.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
For UP, the loss proved costly, dropping them to 3-8 and leaving no room for error in their final three games if they hope to end a six-season Final Four drought.
Raheem led the Fighting Maroons with a game-high 28 points on 27 attacks and seven excellent digs. Tommy Castrodes added 15 points, 16 excellent receptions, and five excellent digs, while Angelo Lipata contributed nine points, 16 excellent receptions, and five excellent digs. Milven Francisco finished with seven points.
UP will next face FEU on Sunday, April 12, at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion in Manila.
