Ateneo faces UST in volleyball exhibition in Bacolod

Ateneo celebrates a point against Akari during their exhibition match Sunday night at USLS Coliseum in Bacolod City. –CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/GRID Athletic Sports

MANILA, Philippines — University of Santo Tomas and Ateneo will clash in a volleyball exhibition game on October 9 at USLS Coliseum as part of Bacolod’s Masskara Festival celebration.

After successfully hosting Ateneo’s friendly match against the Premier Volleyball League club Akari, former Blue Eagle Bea Tan, who is now the organizer of GRID Athletic Sports, said they will host another exhibition between two UAAP schools next month.

“Everyone is very excited to see two UAAP teams to headline the event for the Masskara festival this October,” said Tan. 

The Tigresses and Blue Eagles clash for the first time since their Season 84 step-ladder semis last June when the No.4 seed Ateneo eliminated third placer UST. 

The two squads also met in the epic UAAP women’s volleyball championship showdown in May 2019, where Ateneo captured the crown in  Game 3.

Akari’s Trisha Genesis soars off Ateneo’s Pia Ildefonso and Makana Kowalski during their exhibition match Sunday night at USLS Coliseum in Bacolod City. –CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/GRID Athletic Sports

Ateneo, bannered by Faith Nisperos, Vanie Gandler, AC Miner, Joan Narit, Taks Fujimoto, Makana Kowalski, and libero Roma Mae Doromal, faced Akari, which is composed of their former teammates Akari’s Erika Raagas, Dani Ravena and sisters Jho and Jaja Maraguinot.

The Power Chargers rallied from a 1-2 match deficit to pull off a 25-27, 25-21, 22-25, 25-18, 15-12 win over the Blue Eagles in an exhibition match in front of almost 4,000 fans that packed the fabled Bacolod venue.

The Chargers were led by Trisha Genesis, Lycha Ebon, Janine Marciano, Geneveve Casugod, Michelle Cobb, and Krich Macaslang, who produced the match-winner.

Last week, Ateneo beat Akari in five sets at University of San Agustin Gym in Iloilo City.