Fiery Eagles trip Bulldogs

Ateneo celebrates after surprisingly dominating NU in three sets in a battle of two unbeaten teams Monday. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Ateneo claimed the No. 1 spot after turning a match billed as a tight showdown into a one-sided battle.

Dominant all game, the Blue Eagles ripped National University, 25-16, 25-20, 25-17, to complete a 7-0 sweep of the quarterfinals in the Spikers’ Turf Collegiate Conference Monday at Filoil Flying V Arena.

“We had the disadvantage in power and height, but we were able to outsmart them,” coach Oliver Almadro said after his Eagles gained the top seed heading into the Final Four.

“The players delivered and just enjoyed the game.”

Marck Espejo unloaded all of his 12 points on kills as the Eagles surprisingly overwhelmed the Bulldogs in the duel between unbeaten teams.

Despite the loss, the Bulldogs will go into the Final Four as the second seed after wrapping up their quarterfinal run with a 6-1 card.

Earlier, St. Benilde bowed out with a 2-5 slate after a 17-25, 25-22, 14-25, 25-23, 17-15 triumph over Far Eastern University.

Johnvic de Guzman powered the Blazers with 28 points built on 21 kills, four blocks and three aces.

The Eagles zoomed to a 16-8 lead in the first set that set the tone for the rest of the match.

Rex Intal added eight markers and Ish Polvorosa also delivered 14 excellent sets for the Eagles.

Surprise starter Tony Koyfman, a Russian-American recruit, dropped six points, including back-to-back aces to cap the Eagles’ strong first set.

The Bulldogs tried to put up a fight in the second frame and moved within 16-15, but consecutive errors doomed their rally.