By ADRIAN STEWART CO
The Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles overcame a shaky start to defeat the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, 23-25, 25-18, 25-22, 25-19, in the UAAP Season 87 men’s volleyball tournament at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Sunday, February 23.
Negrense Jian Matthew Salarzon finished with 17 points with 14 attacks and three blocks, to go along with 10 excellent receptions, as the Blue Eagles returned to their winning ways with a 2-1 record.
Kennedy Batas tallied 17 points on 16 attacks with 18 excellent receptions. Amil Pacinio contributed 15 points to the win, while Brian Castro and Jet Gopio completed with 12 and 11 points, respectively, for Ateneo.
“Marami pa tayo kailangan pang matutunan. ‘Yung pag-recover namin is medyo mahirap siya kasi sobrang bigat. Pero thankful [kami], we came out with the win kasi, for sure, nadadala pa nila ‘yung talo last game,” Blue Eagles head coach Vince Mangulabnan said.
“Magandang learnings itong past three games namin kasi somehow ‘pag pinagsama-sama ‘yung sistema nung tatlo, sakto siya para sa preparation namin heading into the FEU [Far Eastern University] game,” he added.
Angelo Lagando paced the Fighting Maroons with 14 points on 13 attacks and one ace with seven excellent receptions and six excellent digs, while Olayemi Raheem was limited to 11 points in the losing effort as they dropped to a 1-2 record.
Meanwhile, the FEU Tamaraws stunned the defending champion National University Bulldogs, 27-25, 25-14, 25-23, to secure solo first place with a 3-0 win-loss slate.
Dryx Saavedra led the charge with 20 points on 17 attacks and three blocks with one dig.
Jelord Talisayan tallied 11 points on six attacks, three aces and two blocks with 14 excellent receptions for FEU, which recorded their first win over National University since April 28, 2019.
“‘Yung trabaho namin, hindi kami tumitigil. Kung nakita niyo ‘yung moment sa ensayo namin, simula noong last game hanggang ngayon, hindi pa kami tumitigil mag-ensayo at hindi pa kami nagpapahinga,” FEU head coach Eddieson Orcullo said.
Buds Buddin paced the Bulldogs in the losing effort with 12 points on 10 attacks, one block and one ace, while Leo Aringo tallied 10 points with one ace along with eight excellent receptions and two excellent digs.
They dropped to a 2-1 record./ASC, WDJ