Ateneo maintains men's volleyball postseason aspirations

c/o UAAP Media Team

UAAP Season 87 Men’s Volleyball Standings

FEU 7-0
NU 6-1
Ateneo 5-3
UST 4-3
DLSU 4-3
UP 2-6
AdU 2-6
UE 0-8

Games Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena

9 a.m. - NU vs DLSU (Men)
11 a.m. - FEU vs UST (Men)
1 p.m. - FEU vs UST (Women)
5 p.m. - NU vs DLSU (Women)

ATENEO de Manila University opened its UAAP Season 87 Men’s Volleyball second round campaign with a rousing 25-16, 25-18, 25-21 victory over University of the Philippines on Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

Dan Nicolas and Tommy Castrodes attempted to put the Fighting Maroons on the board, closing in within 16-18 in the third but the Blue Eagles decided to end it in straight sets.

Amil Pacinio, Jettlee Gopio, and Jian Salarzon teamed up in Ateneo’s finisher to lift its record to 5-3 at solo third, above idle UST Golden Spikers and De La Salle Green Spikers at 4-3.

“Masaya ako sa pinakita ng team kasi itong second round sabi ko nag reset na kami kasi hindi siya like nung first round na wala kaming guide or any pwedeng reviewin or kahit ‘yung ibang teams,” said Ateneo head coach Vince Mangulabnan.

Pacinio finished with 17 points on 12-of-19 attacks, three aces, and two blocks along with four digs to lead the Blue Eagles to the one-hour, 17-minute win.

Kennedy Batas, the Most Valuable Player race leader after the first round, chipped in 14 points on 13 attacks and one ace along with 10-of-15 excellent receptions, while Salarzon got 10 points.

The Blue Eagles dominated the Fighting Maroons in the spiking and service departments, 45-35 and 7-0, respectively.

"Itong second round, mababago lahat kasi nagmeet na nung first round, ito na yung time para sa basahan talaga ng laro," added the former NU setter.

Ateneo will be back next Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum against Adamson University.

Nicolas and Castrodes paced the Fighting Maroons with 10 points each with the latter, a rookie out of Adamson High School, getting 12 excellent receptions. Olayemi Raheem contributed nine points.

UP looks to return to the win column on Wednesday against defending champion National University at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.