Ateneo, UST nip foes in UAAP men’s volleyball

MANILA, Philippines — Marck Espejo fired a career-best 33 points as Ateneo nipped La Salle, 23-25, 25-23, 27-25, 21-25, 15-9, Saturday morning in the UAAP season 76 men’s volleyball tournament.

Espejo had 27 attacks and four services aces for the Blue Eagles in a nip-and-tuck affair which saw no team get a commanding lead.

The Blue Eagles and the Green Archers traded sets, but Ateneo took charge in the fifth and deciding set for their third victory against as many defeats. The Green Archers dropped to 2-4.

Rex Intal added 14 points for Ateneo including three blocks, an area which La Salle actually had an edge, 13-9.

In the first game at the Arena in San Juan, University of Santo Tomas likewise survived Adamson, 25-21, 15-25, 22-25, 25-22, 15-13.

Mark Alfafara led the Golden Spikers, who also improved to 3-3, with 29 points while three others finished in double digits.

The Falcons, who only utilized seven players with Michael Sudaria topscoring with 22, dropped to 3-3 in a three-way logjam with UST and Ateneo.