Ateneo head coach Oliver Almadro says winning by straight sets over a streaking Adamson team is something he did not expect. Mark Giongco/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Ateneo built a wall and a surging Adamson side went crashing into it Sunday morning.
The Blue Eagles put the Falcons’ seven-game winning run to a screeching halt following a 26-24, 25-22, 25-18 victory in the UAAP Season 77 men’s volleyball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
“We didn’t expect to win by straight sets because Adamson is a really good team and they have a seven-game winning streak,” Ateneo head coach Oliver Almadro told INQUIRER.net
“This kind of win gives the players a high morale but we cannot let this win linger. We have to move on quickly because we have another game on Wednesday then Saturday against NU,” Almadro added.
Second-year spiker Marck Espeho, the reigning MVP, led three Ateneo players in double digits with 12 points, three of which came off blocks. Joshua Villanueva and Ishmael Rivera added 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Espejo continued his impressive play but Almadro sees what his prized ward still has to work on rather than just be awed by his skill level.
“He still has to work on his serve,” Almadro said with a laugh when asked if he is expecting another MVP season for Espejo. “If he can perfect his serve, he can add that to his arsenal and be a complete player.”
As good as the Blue Eagles played, Almadro pointed out an area his team has to address as the tournament’s crucial stretch approaches.
“We still committed a lot of errors. We have to work on those simple mistakes,” he noted.
“The positive thing is that the team is learning to stay strong in the end game — that’s what we weren’t able to do during our losses in the first round.”
Ateneo, which improved to 6-2, had 33 miscues compared to Adamson’s 27. The Falcons though, committed crucial ones — including back-to-back errors in the third set — that gave the Eagles a 21-16 cushion.
Espejo smashed a hit that made it, 22-16, to put the game away and deal the Falcons just their second loss in nine games.
Michael Sudaria and Jerome Sarmiento scored seven apiece for Adamson.
“Our goal is to get back to the Finals and if we make it there obviously we also want to win the championship,” said Almadro. “But we have to make the Final Four first.
After another win, Ateneo took a step towards it.