Ateneo goes 13-0, sweeps NU for Spikers’ Turf title

Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Ateneo capped its immaculate run with a championship in the Spikers’ Turf Collegiate Conference, completing a sweep of National University, 25-23, 25-21, 38-40, 25-19, in Game 2 of their finals series on Sunday at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Blue Eagles MVP Marck Espejo fittingly delivered the final blow – an off-the-block kill over Bulldogs’ James Natividad that triggered the celebration.

“It looks like 13 is a lucky number for us,” Ateneo head coach Oliver Almadro, whose squad won all of its 13 games.

Ateneo’s capper, however, did not play out in cruise control as the Bulldogs put them in the grinder of a third set.

“We can’t win everything, there’s the law of averages but then I’m proud of my players as they took the fourth set.”

Rex Intal put Ateneo at championship point, 24-18, with a swift, powerful attack.

Espejo, who was also named Finals MVP, led the Blue Eagles with 24 points while Intal added 16.

Joshua Villanueva and Ysay Marasigan also finished in double-figures for Ateneo with 12 and 11 points, respectively.

Bryan Bagunas led the Bulldogs, which had four players finishing in double-digits, with 22 while Madzlan Gampong chipped in 15.