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| c/o UAAP Media Team |
Games Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum
9 a.m. - NU vs UST (Men)
11 a.m. - Adamson vs UP (Men)
1 p.m. - Adamson vs UP (Women)
5 p.m. - NU vs UST (Women)
ATENEO de Manila University made swift work of undermanned University of the East, 25-21, 25-19, 25-16 for a bounce-back win to cap its UAAP Season 87 Men’s Volleyball Tournament first round on Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Enzo Gutierrez, a second-year setter out of Las Vegas, steered the Blue Eagles to this dominant win and a 4-3 record at fifth spot with 18 excellent sets that allowed five players scoring at least seven points.
Kennedy Batas, the league-leader in scoring, unleashed a game-high 15 points on 11 attacks, two aces, and two blocks, he complemented with 14 receptions and six digs.
Amil Pacinio also came up with 13 points on seven spikes, three blocks, and three aces, while Jian Salarzon had 12 points, nine receptions, and seven digs.
Middle blockers Jettlee Gopio and Brian Castro also produced seven points apiece to the delight of head coach Vince Mangulabnan.
“Sinasabi ko lang lagi sa kanila na may particular player talaga na mas makakarami ng puntos or like ngayong game, balanced nga kami. Itong stats wala naman sa akin as long as ‘yung collective effort namin present,” said Mangulabnan, who is in his first year of coaching Ateneo.
("I always tell them that there will always be a particular player who will score more points, or like in this game, we were actually balanced. These stats don't really matter to me as long as our collective effort is present.")
“Personally, masasabi ko na hindi pa ako satisfied sa ibinigay ko ngayong first round kasi merong ups and downs nga sa play, yun yung kailangan namin i-work on talaga para sa second round,” Batas added as they fail to keep the momentum on their side in the first seven games.
("Personally, I can say that I'm not yet satisfied with what I contributed in the first round because there were ups and downs in our play. That's what we really need to work on for the second round.")
Ateneo made sure to finish the match in three sets, racing to an intimidating 17-8 lead in the third en route to the 80-minute victory.
The game’s first serve, supposedly at 9 a.m., was pushed 30 minutes later due to egress from the 2025 Jisoo Asia Tour event on Friday evening.
The Red Warriors ended the first round winless but will look to change their fortunes in the second round.
UE played without both of its natural setters in Andre Bicar and Dave Poquita, forcing outside spiker Steven Aligayon to be the playmaker again, tossing 14 excellent sets.
Rookie Raquim Aceron once again paced the Red Warriors with 14 points alongside 15 excellent receptions and five digs followed by another newcomer in Roy Piojo with eight.
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