Defending champions Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles turned a highly-anticipated match into a dismantling.
The spikers from Loyola Heights secured their first elimination round sweep ever after squashing arch-rivals National University Bulldogs 25-17, 25-21, 25-16 at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
Ateneo booked a trip straight to the Finals, leaving NU, the University of Santo Tomas, and the Far Eastern University to scuffle in a long stepladder Final Four which begins after the Holy Week break.
Ateneo dominated every facet of the match, stifling NU’s offense with heavy serving and smart blocking. The Blue Eagles powered in 10 block kills while out-attacking the Bulldogs, 39-24.
The Blue Eagles were in a hole only once in the match, down 7-12 at the onset of the second set. Ateneo then rallied back through quick transitions, taking the lead for good, 20-17.
“NU played well but I guess my players are prepared also. And ‘yun ang pinakamaganda doon. Actually Marck (Espejo) is playing with a fever. Sabi ko nga kanina, ready naman ako. But he said, ‘I’m ready.’ So that’s how I admire my players. Even if they know there’s something wrong, they’re always ready mentally, physically, and spiritually,” said Ateneo head coach Oliver Almadro, who led his team to their 28th straight win and their 10th consecutive win over NU.
Feeling under the weather due to a frantic academic schedule, three-time UAAP MVP Marck Espejo still tallied 16 points which included four block kills. American Tony Koyfman added 11 markers, while Rex Intal managed 10.
Ateneo now face a more than two-week rest before seeing action again.
Bryan Bagunas led an anemic NU offense with nine points, while Fauzi Ismail stumbled into seven markers.
NU finish with a 12-2 record and place high in the stepladder, taking on the winner of the do-or-die match between UST and FEU.
The Scores
ADMU (3) – Espejo 16, Koyfman 11, Intal 10, Baysa 9, Villanueva 5, Polvorosa 1, Medalla 0, Rivera 0, Sumanguid (L)
NU (0) – Bagunas 9, Ismail 7, Natividad 6, Saura 3, Dayandante 2, Gampong 2, Malabunga 2, Marcos (L), Sumagui (L)
