Ateneo de Manila University disposed of University of the Philippines, 25-14, 25-20, 25-15, in 84 minutes in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on Sunday.
Zel Tsunashima’s attacking prowess fueled the Blue Eagles to take advantage of Fighting Maroons’ feeble defensive efforts throughout the game.
Tsunashima finished with 16 points from 13 attacks and three blocks, as the Blue Eagles captured their third win to keep its Final Four hopes alive.
“I think I just embraced my role better as a team contributor,” Tsunashima said.
“My mindset inside the court is to just be confident, knowing that my teammates trust me,” she continued.
Roma Mae Doromal, who finished with 13 excellent receptions and eight excellent digs, said the team just showed its true form.
“Now, we saw (the real) Ateneo. This is how we play, and this is what we were seeing in our training that we had a hard time showing in our games,” Doromal said.
The Blue Eagles will face fourth-seed Far Eastern University on 4 April after the Holy Week break.
In men’s play, University of Santo Tomas came back from two sets down to topple National University, 28-30, 22-25, 25-23, 25-22, 15-9.
The Golden Spikers overcame their nerves by pushing as Josh Ybanez exploded with a barrage of attacks to finish strong over the top-seed Bulldogs.
It was a repeat of UST’s first-round victory with Ybañez coming up with a career-high 34-point explosion from 62 attacks, laced with 25 excellent receptions.
“We thought that we did good when we opened every set, but we always fall short when it comes to ending the sets. We’re not fierce enough, and we’re not aggressive enough,” Ybanez said.
“So from then on, we wanted to change. We wanted to start strong, and we want to be fiercer in ending the game,” he continued.
Dux Yambao orchestrated the Golden Spikers’ offense with 26 excellent sets as Ybanez, Sherwin Umandal, and Rey De Vega forced their attacks through Obed Mukaba and Angelo Almendras’s tight presence on the Bulldogs’ frontline.
Umandal finished with 15 points, in 13 attacks and two aces, while De Vega chipped in 11 points with three excellent digs.
Meanwhile, the Bulldogs suffered in Joshua Retamar’s limited presence in the fifth set as he suffered a bad fall after challenging De Vega’s attack in the fourth frame.
Jade Disquitado and Jenngerard Diao finished with 20 and 19 points apiece as the Bulldogs absorbed their second loss of the season.
Meanwhile, gritty Ateneo averted disaster after escaping UP, 25-15, 18-25, 25-15, 20-25, 15-10.
