The Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles set up a heated Final Four bracket after clinching the third seed with a win over the Adamson University Soaring Falcons, 25-23, 30-28, 25-19, at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
The Blue Eagles finish the elimination round with a 10-4 record, and will meet twice-to-beat Far Eastern University in the Final Four. Ateneo split the season series with the Tamaraws.
Adamson fell to the fourth seed with a 9-5 card. They will face the red-hot defending champions NU Bulldogs, who hold a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four.
The first set was close, with Ateneo pulling away after later errors from Adamson and a clutch hit from Ron Medalla. The second frame was much closer as Medalla again featured in the clutch, powering in back-to-back kills to close the set. Ateneo then overwhelmed Adamson in the third set, building a 22-17 lead off terrific blocking and never looking back.
“Importante sa amin na tapusin ‘yung eliminations with a win and head into the Final Four on a positive note,” pointed out Ateneo head coach Timothy Sto Tomas.
“Regardless sa makakalaban namin in the Final Four, we needed to win so tuloy-tuloy lang ‘yung momentum namin and execution,” the first-year head coach added.
Medalla finished with 17 points, while fellow open hitter Janjan Rivera added 16. Tony Koyfman tallied 14 markers.
George Labang was the lone Falcon in double-digits with 11 points. Mark Alvarez, Leo Miranda, and Pao Pablico each managed eight points.
The Scores
ADMU (3) – Medalla 17, Rivera 16, Koyfman 14, Njigha 9, Glorioso 7, Magadia 1, Aguilar 0, Cuerva 0, Morado 0, Sumanguid (L)
AdU (0) – Labang 11, Alvarez 8, Miranda 8, Pablico 8, Alicando 6, Jimenez 3, Nuguid 0, Valdez (L)
