MANILA: Defending champion National University (NU) barged into the win column at the expense of Ateneo de Manila University, 25-22, 25-15, 25-17, in the UAAP Season 86 men’s volleyball tournament at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Saturday.
Angelo Nicolas Almendras scored 18 points, while Jade Alex Disquitado added 17 points, including two blocks and 15 excellent receptions.
‘Sa game namin, nagkaroon kami ng kumpiyansa sa galaw namin. Malaking bagay yang paghahabol namin nung first set talaga. Pagdating ng second and third set, doon ko nakita na kumpiyansa na ulit maglaro ang players ko kasi ‘yun ang nawala sa amin noong last game namin (In our game, we had confidence in our moves. It was a big thing that we were trailing in the first set. Come the second and third sets, I saw that my players were confident again, something we lost in our last game),” NU coach Dante Alinsunurin said in an interview after the match.
University of Santo Tomas (UST) ended NU’s 34-match streak, 25-23, 26-24, 25-23, on Feb
. 18.
NU’s previous loss was against FEU in Season 81 on Feb. 16, 2019 while UST last beat NU in round 2 of Season 77 (2014-2015).
NU and Ateneo joined De La Salle University and Adamson University in second place at 1-1.
The Falcons downed the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, 27-25, 25-15, 25-22, in the other men’s match.
‘Masyadong na-excite lang ‘yung mga players nung first set kaya sabi ko compose muna kung gusto nating manalo (The players just got too excited during the first set so I told them to compose themselves first if we want to win),” Adamson coach George Pascua said.
Jude Christian Aguilar finished with 10 attacks, three blocks and an ace for the Falcons.
‘Kaya po kami nahabol nung third set kasi parang nag-lay low po kami pero hindi naman ganon ang mindset namin. ‘Yung team captain namin ni-remind kami na kailangan namin tapusin agad. Hindi na kailangan bigyan ng chance ‘yung kalaban (They were able to catch up in the third set because it seemed like we laid low, but t
hat’s not our mindset. Our team captain reminded us that we need to finish immediately. There is no need to give the opponent a chance),” Aguilar said.
Louis Gaspar Gamban had 10 points, 10 receptions, and seven digs for UP, which absorbed its second straight loss.
In the women’s division, Adamson pulled off a 25-22, 25-22, 28-26 win over UP, led by Ishie Lalongisip who delivered delivered 12 points, 16 digs, and seven receptions.
Niña Ytang scored 18 points, while Jenn Gould and Irah Jaboneta chipped in six points apiece for the Fighting Maroons, who dropped to 0-2.
Source: Philippines News Agency
