Lifted again by the brilliance of Marck Espejo, the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles earned a chance for a fourth straight title, vanquishing the Far Eastern University Tamaraws, 25-19, 18-25, 25-22, 25-18 at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
The Blue Eagles found their groove early, continuing to feed Marck Espejo, who gave them a 21-17 lead in the first set. FEU got to within two, 21-19, but their own miscues cost them four straight points.
Retaliating, the Tamaraws’ defense stifled Ateneo midway through the second set. FEU saw their 16-14 edge inflate into an insurmountable 22-17 advantage.
The third set went down to the wire, with Espejo scoring six straight points to give the Blue Eagles a 24-21 edge. With FEU focusing their defense on the four-time MVP, Ateneo went to captain Karl Baysa for the set-clinching smash.
The Espejo storm raged into the fourth set, with the Marikina-native firing in two straight kills to give Ateneo a 16-10 lead. Smelling blood, the Blue Eagles pounced on the Tamaraws for a 22-13 lead, before surrendering errors that gave FEU a late 4-0 run.
Espejo finished with 37 points, 18 shy of his record-setting game one performance. Like last Saturday, he was the only Blue Eagle in double-digits.
“No matter what it is, kung si Marck ‘yun, walang problema sa amin. Hindi lang naman si Marck, he has the numbers but ‘yung all aorund is what matters,” said Ateneo head coach Oliver Almadro.
“What’s important is, my team trusts each other. They trust Marck, they trust Ish (Polvorosa), they trust kung anong ginagawa nila,” the decorated mentor furthered.
The Blue Eagles, who dropped two matches to FEU in the elimination round, became the first lower seed to overcome a twice-to-beat opponent since a fourth-seeded NU Bulldogs outlasted the top-seeded UST Tiger Spikers in Season 77.
FEU libero Rikko Marmeto managed 13 digs and 24 excellent receptions in his final match.
Ateneo will meet the National University in the Finals for the fifth consecutive season. Game One commences on Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Scores
ADMU (3) – Espejo 37, Medalla 9, Baysa 8, Njigha 7, Glorioso 5, Polvorosa 1, Morado 0, Rivera 0, Trinidad 0, Sumanguid (L)
FEU (1) – Paler 14, Garcia 11, Bugaoan 10, Quiel 9, Solis 9, Bautista 3, Suarez 1, Barrica 0, Silang 0, Marmeto (L)
