Ateneo completes 3-peat

Ateneo reasserted its status as arguably the best collegiate team in men’s volleyball after trouncing Far Eastern University, 25-21, 25-22, 2516, yesterday for its third straight title in the Premier Volleyball League Collegiate Conference at The Arena in San Juan City. Marck Espejo, later adjudged as the tournament and Finals Most Valuable Player, fired 20 points on 14 hits, two blocks and four service aces as the Blue Eagles completed their sweep of the Tamaraws in the best-of-three se- ries.

Gian Carlo Glorioso added 10 points including nine attacks for while Ish Polvorosa contributed 30 excellent sets as Ateneo extended its reign in the school-flavored tourney after winning 11 of 12 matches that started with a seven-game sweep of the eliminations.

The Blue Eagles were given a scare by the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers when they were pushed to a deciding third game in the semifinals, only to display their might to reach the finals.

Coach Oliver Almadro is hopeful that the stint would bode well for Ateneo’s quest to win a fourth straight UAAP men’s crown.

“Ito yung exposure na kailangan namin para makita namin kung ano ang kaya naming gawin coming in the UAAP season,” said Almadro. “This may not be 100 percent our gauge, but it showed us where we are right now in terms of our performance.”

Espejo joined forces with Ishmael Rivera and Polvorosa to recover from a 19-17 deficit en route to the secondset win.

Ateneo further dictated the tempo in the third set with a quick 6-1 lead and never looked back.

“We just treat every game as if it’s our last. Tulungan kami ng mga teammates ko. Di ko naman makukuha yun individual awards if not for my teammates,” said Espejo.

Meanwhile, other individual awardees include National University’ Fauzi Ismail (2nd Best Outside Spiker) and Kim Malabunga (2nd Best Middle Blocker), FEU’s John Paul Bugaoan (1st Best Middle Blocker), University of Santo Tomas’ Joshua Umandal (Best Opposite Spiker), and Ateneo’s Manuel Sumanguid III (Best Libero) and Polvorosa (Best Spiker).

On the other hand, UST settled for third place after sweeping NU, 21-25, 30-28, 28-26, 25-21, in Game 2 of their own series.