Eagles ease out Tams, reach volley final

MANILA, Philippines - Second-ranked Ateneo overhauled a two-set deficit to oust Far Eastern University, 23-25, 19-25, 25-17, 28-26, 15-13, and advance to the finals for the first time in 34 years in UAAP men’s volleyball at The Arena in San Juan yesterday.

Rookie Mark Espejo scored 24 points, while Rex Intal had seven blocks to finish with 19 hits for the Blue Eagles, who will take on the winner of the other Final Four pairing between top seed National University and fourth-ranked Adamson University, whose series will start on Wednesday.

The Tamaraws were two match points away from sending the semifinals to a decider, but Karl dela Calzada and Lucky Margate misfired on their service.

“The players responded sa instructions,” said returning Ateneo coach Oliver Almadro. “Sa first two sets, wala ‘yung maturity ng team because most of them are rookies and sophomores while FEU, sanay sa ganitong labanan. Pero nang naka-recover sa third set, hindi na namin binitawan.”

The Blue Eagles closed out the intense match after Joshua Villanueva blocked Greg Dolor’s attempt in the middle.

In his final game for the Tamaraws, Dela Calzada finished with 15 points, including two blocks, and five digs, while Raymond Bautista added 14 markers.    

“Motivated ang mga bata because of the tremendous support of the Ateneo community,” said Almadro.

In the fifth frame, the Blue Eagles broke away from an 8-8 standoff with Neil Flores and Espejo scoring consecutive hits followed by an FEU error in its attack to give Ateneo a three-point lead.

The Tamaraws never recovered from there as Intal and Espejo delivered timely hits followed by Villanueva’s match-clinching block for the Eagles.