Blue Eagles eye to be better defensively in seeking No. 3

The Blue Eagles hope to celebrate another win. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Unbeaten and looking to improve, Ateneo battles Far Eastern in the V-League Men’s Collegiate Challenge Sunday as the Blue Eagles seek to polish their reception skills to raise the overall level of their game.

“We are blessed with talented setters and hitters. That’s why we need to be better with our first touch,” Ateneo coach Timothy Sto. Tomas said with a mix of Filipino as his Eagles shoot to win a third straight game and remain as the only undefeated team in the eight-team men’s field. “We have been working on it, and there is still that slight hesitation in that aspect.”

The first serve is at 2 p.m. as the Eagles shoot for a followup to victories over Emilio Aguinaldo and San Beda with outside hitter Amil Pacinio, who scored 15 points in a 25-18, 25-17, 25-21 victory over the Red Lions, again expected to lead the charge.

Jian Salarzon who scored 11 points built on 10 attacks, and Kennedy Batas, who had 10, were proof of the talent that Sto. Tomas has in offense put in a 10-hit game, including a crucial block in the third as Ateneo matched Perpetual Help’s 2-0 slate.

“Moving forward, if we want to win against the other teams, we have to address that flaw,” Sto. Tomas said.

Sorry setback

Amil Pacinio hammers in one of his 15 points against the Lions. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

In the other men’s game, De La Salle U tries to bounce back from a sorry five-set setback to Far Eastern University last week against San Beda at 4 p.m.

Four NCAA schools, meanwhile, square off in women’s play with reigning champion St. Benilde and San Sebastian College-Recoletos clashing to take the lid off of a busy four-game schedule at 10 a.m.

Perpetual Help (1-1) and Lyceum (0-2) tangle at 12 noon.