Ateneo Blue Eagles in the 2024 Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Pre-season Championship. –SSL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Ateneo advanced to the playoff round after dominating Emilio Aguinaldo College, 25-12, 25-21, 25-12, in Pool A of the 2024 Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Pre-season Championship on Wednesday at Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
JLo Delos Santos led the collective effort of the Blue Eagles, smashing 10 points. Jihan Chuatico and Alexia Montoro had seven points each.
Montoro scored all her points from attacks for Ateneo, which sent a strong message of a better second-round showing after finishing the pool phase with a 3-1 record.
READ: Shakey’s Super League: Role players lead La Salle’s latest win
“I think you should look forward to us being stronger because we train every day. Hopefully, we’ll get through this next round with a sweep,” said the Ateneo rookie.
Ateneo will battle Far Eastern University, University of Santo Tomas, and the second-ranked team in Pool C for one of the two twice-to-beat quarterfinals advantages at stake in the next round-robin stage.
The Lady Generals ended their campaign winless in four games.
READ: Shakey’s Super League: Ateneo Blue Eagles keep playoff bid alive
Meanwhile, the College of Saint Benilde prevented Adamson from booking a ticket to the next round with a 25-13, 25-22, 25-19 sweep.
Mary Grace Borromeo led the Lady Blazers with 10 points off eight attacks, one block, and an ace, to improve to a 1-1 record in Pool D, spoiling the Lady Falcons from completing the Final Eight.
St. Benilde, which drew 12 points from Rhea Densing, seeks to become the lone NCAA team in the final eight when it battles San Sebastian on Friday.
Adamson lost back-to-back games, ending up with a 1-2 record.
Shaina Nitura, who set the league record of 35 points, was limited to just seven points.
Earlier, Lyceum of the Philippines University turned to veteran Johna Dolorito in the fourth set to spoil University of Perpetual Help’s attempt to force a decider for a 25-18, 25-15, 18-25, 25-22 win.
The wing spiker scored 10 of her 16 points in the fourth frame including four in the also-ran Lady Pirates’ closing 6-2 run to wrap their Pool B campaign on a high note.
Lyceum finished with an even 2-2 win-loss record in the tournament, while Perpetual remained winless in three starts despite the 19-point effort of Almeniana, who played through pain after spraining her right ankle late in the fourth set.