Ateneo de Manila University solidified its hold on third place in the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Volleyball Tournament with a commanding 25-21, 19-25, 25-16, 25-17 victory over Adamson University on Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The win also marks the Blue Eagles’ third consecutive triumph.
After missing the Final Four in the past two seasons — both times finishing fifth — Ateneo improved to a 6-3 record.
That puts them a game ahead of their closest competitors, the University of Santo Tomas Golden Spikers and the De La Salle Green Spikers, who share identical 5-4 slates.
The win sets the stage for a crucial showdown against their longtime rivals, the Green Spikers, on Wednesday at the Big Dome — a match that could have major implications for their Final Four aspirations.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“Happy ako kasi kahit ilang sets pa yan, basta panalo, panalo sa akin kasi tinrabaho yan ng players. Nagtiwala sila sa amin, nagtiwala kami sa kanila, kaya ito yung nagiging resulta namin,” said Ateneo head coach Vince Mangulabnan after the one-hour, 52-minute contest.
After Adamson equalized the match at one set apiece, the Blue Eagles tightened their defense in the third set, stifling the Soaring Falcons’ offense. Adamson managed just five attack points and one ace in the frame, with the rest of their 10 points coming from Ateneo’s errors.
Ateneo then closed out the match in dominant fashion in the fourth set. Clinging to a slim 18-16 lead, the Blue Eagles unleashed a decisive run, sealing the game at 25-17 behind the efforts of Kennedy Batas and Amil Pacinio.
“Honestly, nung first two sets, lousy ‘yung galaw ng isa’t isa, so sinabihan ko lang sila na mag-smile kayo kasi malaking tulong yan. Don’t be discouraged kasi nawala kami sa focus nung second set. In the latter part ng game, we were able to overcome ‘yung ganoong challenges,” said Batas, who finished with 20 points and 11 receptions.
Jian Salarzon contributed 19 points and eight digs, while Pacinio added 15 points.
Setter Lorenzo Gutierrez orchestrated the Blue Eagles’ offense with 24 excellent sets, while libero Lance De Castro tallied 14 excellent receptions and 10 digs.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
On the other hand, the Soaring Falcons fell to 2-7, tying the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons for sixth and seventh places in the standings.
Jude Aguilar was the lone bright spot for Adamson, scoring 16 points off 13-of-42 attacks and three blocks.
Adamson will look to bounce back when it faces UST on Wednesday, hoping to regain its winning form.
