Unbeaten Ateneo, NU face lowly Spikers foes

Propped up by big wins, Ateneo and National University look to stretch their unbeaten run to four games against struggling foes Wednesday in the Spikers’ Turf Collegiate Conference at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The Blue Eagles take on winless Arellano in Group B at 5 p.m., a week after halting University of the Philippines’ hot start.

“Hopefully we keep on improving,” said Ateneo coach Oliver Almadro. “We can’t just be satisfied with what we’re doing.”

The Bulldogs, who also pinned a first defeat on the surprising National College of Business and Arts, clash with the rebuilding Far Eastern University in Group A at 3 p.m.

In the other Group B match, UP tries to rebound from its first setback and clinch a quarterfinal berth versus De La Salle-Dasmariñas at 1 p.m.

Only the top four teams in each group will advance to the next round. Idle Emilio Aguinaldo College (4-0) and NU (3-0) have already made it in Group A.

Ateneo (3-0) and idle La Salle (3-1) have also secured quarterfinal seats in Group B.

Almadro said he wants the Eagles to sustain their top form as winning still matters even late in the eliminations.

“The win-loss record in the group stage will be carried over into the quarterfinals, so every win counts,” said Almadro.

Expected to step up again for the UAAP champion Eagles are Mark Espejo, Rex Intal and Ysay Marasigan, who combined for 33 points in their 25-16, 25-14, 25-21 whipping of the Maroons.

The Bulldogs, though, expect more of their young guns like Francis Saura, Bryan Bagunas and Kim Malabunga to deliver after the trio teamed up for 31 points in their disposal of the NCBA Wildcats, 25-16, 25-14, 25-23, last week.