Eagles survive Tams in five-set thriller

Jian Salarzon (right) pierces a Far Eastern block with authority. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Ateneo needed five sets and a disputed match point to dispose of Far Eastern University (FEU), 25-22, 25-23, 18-25, 23-25, 15-13, as the Blue Eagles stayed unbeaten in men’s action of the V-League Collegiate Challenge pressed on by their faithful following at Paco Arena on Sunday.

Dragged to the limit after blowing a two-set lead, the Eagles needed to dig deep and win out in a disputed call to carve out their third straight win as Ateneo stayed as the only unbeaten team in the field.Ateneo coach Timothy Sto. Tomas rued the near fold up to his charges, losing focus and taking the Tawaraws’ collective grit for granted.

“You’ve been against them for how many years or how many games already and you know their character that they never give up,” Sto. Tomas said. “As much as possible, don’t give them the chance to continue fighting and shift the momentum to their side.

“But when we had a chance to close it out, we grabbed the opportunity.”

Match point came after Ateneo over received a Far Eastern service with Eagles’ Lorenzo Gutierrez attempting to salvage it with a jump set high above the net, where Tamaraw Jerold Talisayan attempted a block. Referee Erlindo Eusebio called an overreaching violation on the FEU ace for 14-13.

Defending it

It was a call that Sto. Tomas defended.

“[I]f you’re going to look at it logically, I think the block was really a violation because he (Talisayan) didn’t give (Gutierrez) the chance to set,” Sto. Tomas said. “It’s clear in the review that our setter had the ball with two hands. He (Talisayan) needed to give the chance for the ball to be set and be in the air.

“He can’t just close on it immediately.”

Jian Salarzon had 22 points built on 20 kills while Ken Batas added 21 and Amil Pacinio Jr. 16 for the Eagles.

Ateneo enters a four-day break before facing longtime rival La Salle on Friday.

Zhydryx Saavedra paced Far Eastern with 21 points, with Jomel Codilla accounting for 14 with 11 excellent receptions and Martin Bugaoan with 11 points.

FEU, meanwhile, will try to bounce back as they face Perpetual Help System Dalta on Wednesday.

La Salle turned it around in the fourth set and went on to repulse San Beda U, 25-15, 25-22, 16-25, 25-21, and secure a bounce back second win in the other men’s encounter.

The Green Spikers battled back from 9-13 down in the fourth set as they closed out the set and the match on a 16-8 tear. INQ