ATENEO de Manila started its quest for a three-peat on a high note as the Lady Eagles dominated National University (NU) in straight sets, 25-21, 25-19, 25-14, at the start of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 78 women’s volleyball tournament on Sunday at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan City.
The Lady Eagles crawled back from behind to take the first two sets, built the momentum as they started the third set with a rousing 14-6 lead, before extending it to 19-10 and never looked back to dispatch the Lady Bulldogs.
Reigning Most Valuable Player Alyssa Valdez, who is playing in her farewell season, debuted in Season 78 with a stellar performance to lead Ateneo to its first win of the year.
“It’s just the first match, it’s still a long way to go,” Valdez said. “We’re really happy we got the first game and it’s character building for all of us, especially to the rookies, with me inside the court. I hope we all learn from this game.”
Valdez flaunted her strong offensive form with 18 hits on 15 kills and three service aces, including five excellent digs, while her teammates provided her the needed support with Madie Madayag and Bea de Leon chipping in 13 and 10 points, respectively. Setter Jia Morado was also brilliant in pacing her team with 33 excellent sets.
Myla Pablo and Jaja Santiago led the charge for NU with 11 points apiece in a losing effort.
In the first women’s match, University of the Philippines (UP) swept University of the East (UE), 25-20, 25-13, 25-21, to jump-start its campaign.
Seeking a Final Four entry this season after years of frustrations, the Lady Maroons pummeled the Lady Warriors in straight sets but UP Head Coach Jerry Yee was far from impressed.
“Error-prone as could be expected since most of them are rookies and they played in front of a huge crowd,” Yee said. “It’s just because of jitters, but we have to change in the next games, we have to execute.”
Playing the season with six rookies, the Lady Maroons committed 22 errors. UE had more than two miscues with 24.
Nobody scored double digits for UP, with Nicole Tiamzon and rookies Diana Carlos and Justine Dorog all with nine points while Team Captain Kathy Bersola, returning from an ACL injury she got last season, had a steady game with seven markers.
In men’s action, Ateneo opened its title bid on a high note with a 25-21, 25-18, 29-27 straight-sets win over University of Santo Tomas (UST).
After the rousing first two sets of the defending champions, the Tiger Spikers made it a nail-biting third frame forcing four deuces.
However, Blue Eagles skipper Isay Marasigan and Reigning Most Valuable Player Marck Espejo provided the killer blows to end the match. Marasigan completed the combination play for match-point, 28-27, then Espejo nailed the match-winning cross-court kill.
“As usual, the first-game jitters were there. So it was a climactic ending,” Ateneo Head Coach Oliver Almadro said. “We still have a lot of adjustments and we have to be consistent all throughout the game.”
The Blue Eagles debuted in Season 78 committing 38 errors but still managed to get the win through their 52 attacks, outplaying UST’s 23.
Espejo topped all scorers with 17 hits on 15 spikes and two service aces, while Marasigan and Rex Intal chipped in 11 points apiece.
Meanwhile, Far Eastern University also started its season 78 stint with a convincing 25-23, 26-24, 25-23 victory over the Maroons.
Tamaraw Jeric Gacutan led the way with 12 points off 10 attacks and two blocks, while UP’s Wendel Miguel carried the loads with 13 kills in a losing effort.