Ateneo locks in third spot in men's volleyball

c/o UAAP Media Team

UAAP Season 87 Men's Volleyball Standings

FEU 9-0
NU 7-2
Ateneo 6-3
UST 5-4
DLSU 5-4
UP 2-7
AdU 2-7
UE 0-9

Games Sunday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum

9 a.m. - UE vs UP (Men)
11 a.m. - NU vs FEU (Men)
1 p.m. - UE vs UP (Women)
3 p.m. - NU vs FEU (Women)

ATENEO de Manila University strengthened its hold of the third spot in the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Volleyball Tournament after taking down Adamson University, 25-21, 19-25, 25-16, 25-17, for its third straight win on Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Blue Eagles, who missed the Final Four in the past two seasons and finished at fifth both times, now hold a 6-3 record - a game ahead of closest pursuers University of Santo Tomas Golden Spikers and De La Salle Green Spikers with identical 5-4 slates.

“Happy ako kasi kahit ilang sets pa yan basta panalo is panalo sa akin kasi tinrabaho yan ng players. Nagtiwala sila sa amin, nagtiwala kami sa kanila kaya ito yung nagiging result namin,” said Ateneo head coach Vince Mangulabnan after the one-hour, 52-minute battle.

("I'm happy because no matter how many sets it takes, a win is a win for me since the players worked hard for it. They trusted us, and we trusted them—that's why this is the result we achieved.")

The Blue Eagles regained control of the match after the Soaring Falcons tied the game at one set apiece, thanks to superb defense that limited their foes in the third set.

In the third frame, Adamson only scored five attack points and one ace while its other 10 points came from the errors of Ateneo.

Then the Blue Eagles finished off the Falcons with a strong finisher in the fourth, turning an 18-16 close game to a 25-17 clincher, thanks to Kennedy Batas and Amil Pacinio’s efforts.

“Honestly, nung first two sets lousy ‘yung galaw ng isa’t isa so sinabihan ko lang sila na mag-smile kayo kasi malaking tulong yan and don’t be encouraged kasi nawala kami sa focus nung second set. In the latter part ng game, we were able to overcome ‘yung ganoong challenges,” said Batas, who got 20 points and 11 receptions.

("Honestly, in the first two sets, everyone was moving sluggishly, so I just told them to smile because it helps a lot. I also reminded them not to get discouraged just because we lost focus in the second set. In the latter part of the game, we were able to overcome those challenges.")

Jian Salarzon chipped in 19 points and eight digs, while Pacinio had 15 points.

Lorenzo Gutierrez steered the Blue Eagles with 24 excellent sets, while libero Lance De Castro delivered 14 excellent receptions and 10 digs.

Ateneo looks to continue its streak on Wednesday when it faces La Salle also at the Big Dome.

The Soaring Falcons, on the other hand, slipped to 2-7, joining the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons at sixth and seventh places.

Jude Aguilar was the lone bright spot with 16 points on 13-of-42 attacks and three blocks.

Adamson, looking to regain its winning form, will collide with UST on Wednesday as well.