The DLSU Green Spikers bowed to the defending champion ADMU Blue Eagles in a straight-set match, 25-21, 25-21, 25-18, earlier today at the Mall of Asia Arena. The loss gave them a 2-5 win-loss record to close the first round. Marck Espejo led all scorers to give ADMU 15 points on 13 attacks, followed by Tony Koyfman and Rex Intal with 13 and 12 points, respectively.
On the other side of the court, Arjay Onia scored 11 points on 10 attacks and a block. In the first set, the Blue Eagles took off with a 5-2 run to gain an early lead. However, at 7-4, La Salle overtook them after scoring a 6-1 run to put the scores at 10-9. ADMU gradually trimmed the lead and eventually tied the scores at 14-all, where a deadlock ensued. At 21-all, the Katipunan-based squad put in four points consecutively with an Espejo attack to close the first set at 25-21, in favor of the Blue Eagles.
Heading into the second set, the Blue Eagles showcased their offense to give themselves a four-point lead, 6-2. At 10-7, ADMU scored three consecutive points. La Salle then answered back with a 5-0 run behind Onia’s attacks and ADMU’s errors, cutting the Blue-and-White’s lead to one, 13-12.
However, ADMU did not let La Salle reach any breakpoints throughout the set to protect its lead. At 22-20, ADMU scored three points successively after being blocked by Joshua Jose to take the set with a score of 25-21. Multiple unforced errors were incurred by the two opposing teams in the third set, after a successful quick attack made by Esmilzo Polvorosa and Villanueva.
Amidst this, however, the Blue-and-White was able to capitalize on La Salle’s errors in order to gain the six-point advantage, 10-4. Both teams rallied for points with the Blue Eagles keeping their lead and La Salle trying to catch up, resulting in another deadlock. At 17-13, the Green Spikers were able to make a 4-1 run to trim the lead and put the scores at 18-17. Koyfman and Espejo worked together, however, to make a 7-1 run and cap the set at 25-18, in favor of Ateneo.
In terms of team stats, the Blue Eagles bested La Salle with 41 attacks, nine blocks, and two service aces over DLSU’s 23 attacks and six blocks. The Green Spikers, however, incurred less errors with 23 unforced errors against Ateneo’s 31.
Despite the loss, Green Spikers head coach Nes Pamilar said that the team’s performance was satisfactory considering the absence of Raymark Woo and Geraint Bacon due to injuries. He also explained his move to shuffle the players as they headed into the third set, “Preparation ‘kapag [sa second round], alam ko kung sino gagamitin ko [na] may kumpiyansa.” (Preparation, so that in the second round, I know who I can use with confidence.)
As of press time, the second round schedule for UAAP Men’s Volleyball has yet to be released.
The scores
DLSU 60- Onia 11, Dumago 6, Jose 4, Dimayuga 3, Marco 2, Delos Reyes 1, Maravilla 1, G. Asia 1
ADMU 75- Espejo 15, Koyfman 13, Intal 12, Villanueva 7, Baysa 4, Glorioso 1
