Vengeful win for Ateneo vs Adamson
ATENEO avenged its tough season-opening defeat to Adamson with a 25-23, 25-14, 25-23 victory to bolster its Final Four bid in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament yesterday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Blue Eagles, who suffered a loss to the Lady Falcons via reverse sweep on opening weekend, secured their third straight win.
With a 4-5 record overall, Ateneo moved in a tie with University of the Philippines as it pressed further its bid for a return Final Four trip after a two-year absence.
“I think our best skill today was our serves. Our serves did a lot of damage in the opponent. This is important and in the hard moments, my team continued to focus and it’s the best to do for this moment,” said coach Sergio Veloso as the Blue Eagles dominated the service department, 12-5.
AC Miner led Ateneo’s balanced offense with 13 points while Lyann De Guzman turned in another all-around performance with 12 points, 13 digs, and 13 receptions. Zey Pacia also delivered with 10 points and eight digs.
“For this game everyone contributed, like everyone put the effort and they are focused inside the court. We just fight kahit anong mangyari, just push through every point,” said setter Taks Fujimoto, who tossed 17 excellent sets and scored five points on three kills and two aces.
Adamson dropped to 3-6.
Shai Nitura, who dropped a then rookie league record in scoring with 33 points on opening weekend against the Blue Eagles, led the Lady Falcons with 21 points, 11 receptions, and seven digs.
In men’s play, University of Santo Tomas withstood Noel Kampton’s 30-point outing and bucked a third-set slip to outlast La Salle, 25-22, 25-22, 16-25, 25-22, and snap a three-match skid.
Ateneo strengthened its hold of the third spot after taking down Adamson, 25-21, 19-25, 25-16, 25-17, for its third straight win.
The Blue Eagles rose to 6-3, a game ahead of the Golden Spikers and the Green Spikers, who are in joint fourth at 5-4.
Refusing to be rattled after Kampton powered La Salle to a dominant third-set win, UST regrouped and delivered in the clutch, securing a big victory to wheel back to Final Four contention.
Reigning two-time MVP Josh Ybañez had 21 points on 15-of-29 kills and six service aces, 16 receptions and four digs while Popoy Calinares added 15 points, including two blocks.
“Thank you sa team for the wonderful birthday present. We’re back sa win column and about doon sa errors namin, doon sa ending nahihirapan, nadidistract to close out the game. Yun yung inayos namin actually for the past week and I think it was quite a success,” said Golden Spikers coach Odjie Mamon, who celebrated his birthday last Friday.
It was a big win for the Blue Eagles heading into their rivalry match with the Green Spikers on Wednesday, a showdown that will be pivotal to their Final Four fates.
“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 coach Vince Mangulabnan.
Ken Batas logged 20 points, including two blocks, 11 receptions and seven digs while Jian Salarzon chipped in 19 points, 13 receptions and eight digs for the Blue Eagles.
