Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles needed five sets to neutralize National University Bulldogs, 16-25, 25-23, 25-18, 22-25, and 15-11, in the first game of the Spiker’s Turf 2nd Collegiate Conference’s best-of-three Finals series Wednesday afternoon at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Five Blue Eagles scored in double figures, with ace hitter Marck Espejo leading all scorers with 20 points off 18 attacks. Rex Intal had 16, while Antony Koyfman and Josh Villanueva each produced 12 points. Team captain Karl Baysa chipped in 11 markers.
Ish Polvoroza made his presence felt for Ateneo in setting up his teammates as he made 53 excellent sets in today’s win.
The Bulldogs exposed Ateneo’s weak reception and soft net defense, pounding on them through service aces and cross-court hits to post a wide seven-point lead, 20-13. The Blue Eagles scored off errors, but the Bulldogs’ frontline toughened further that helped them go up 1-0, 25-19.
Ateneo turned things in their favor in the next frame, this time by capitalizing on NU’s wide gaps on the floor that helped them score off open kills. They led 20-17 late in the set, but NU, through their quick hits, came back and inched by a point, 24-23. Espejo, however, scored off a quicker to make it even at 1-1, 25-23.
Despite the early part being close, the Blue Eagles still possessed the upper hand over NU in the third canto. Through successful combination plays and fiery offense from the frontline, the Ateneans managed to convert their slim, three-point 18-15 lead to a seven-point, 25-18 set win to go up 2-1
NU displayed resiliency by bucking a slow start in the fourth set, which saw them flip a 16-6 deficit to a tied affair, 22-22, by feeding off Ateneo’s errors and through cross-court hits. Ateneo had chances to answer back, but NU scored three straight behind off-the-block hits to send the match to a decider, 25-22.
A close fifth set took place between the two, 6-6, but unforced errors — outside hits in particular — on NU’s side paved the way for the Blue Eagles to pull away, 15-11, and win the match in five sets to take Game 1.
“We didn’t end strong in the fourth set,” said Ateneo head coach Oliver Almadro, on the match reaching five sets. “We relaxed, we fooled around, so it’s a lesson learned.”
“But what I’m proud of my boys is their resiliency. They know how to fight back [into the match].”
Bryan Bagunas led NU with 17 in the loss.
Game 2 of the Finals will be this Saturday, September 7, at 12PM.
The Scores:
ADMU (3) – Espejo 20, Intal 16, Koyfman 12, Villanueva 12, Baysa 11, Medalla 2, Polvoroza 2, Magadia 0, Sumanguid (L).
NU (2) – Bagunas 17, Malabunga 12, Saura 9, Gampong 8, Ismail 6, Natividad 4, Dayandante 2, Ancheta 0, Sumagui (L), Marcos (L).
