Ateneo boots out UP from UAAP volleyball Final Four contention

MANILA, Philippines – The Ateneo Blue Eagles fanned their UAAP Season 85 Final Four hopes after they nipped the UP Fighting Maroons in straight sets, 25-20, 25-17, 25-22, at the FilOil EcoOil Centre here in San Juan on Wednesday.

The Blue Eagles returned from the Holy Week break with a convincing victory that sent UP reeling to its seventh straight defeat and eliminated the Diliman-based team from semis contention at 1-9.

Meanwhile, the Blue Eagles are at 4-6.

Ateneo took the straight-sets win despite a mini run from the Fighting Maroons in Set 3.

The Blue Eagles were ahead, 24-17, after Abi Goc's push didn't go over the net.

But a Vanie Gandler service error followed by a Mai Sotomil ace swung momentum back to the Fighting Maroons.

Overall, UP got within two points, 22-24, after an Aly Bertolano block on Faith Nisperos.

But Sotomil committed a crucial service error to gift the sweep to Ateneo.

"We need this win, of course, if we want to go further. We have to be focused and be committed in every match, and every game. So yun lang naman ang mindset namin going into this game. So, we're happy that we won in straight sets," said Ateneo head coach Oliver Almadro.

In Set 2, Ateneo rode a 7-0 scoring run after UP was within a point, 18-17. Nisperos got a kill off the block as the Blue Eagles took the 2-0 lead in the match, 25-17.

Nisperos topped the scoring column for Ateneo with 17 points while Gandler added nine markers.

Player of the Game Lyann De Guzman added eight points and seven excellent receptions.

Bertolano topscored for UP with nine points in the losing effort.

Ateneo faces UST next to keep their Final Four campaign alive. They clash on Saturday, April 15.

UP, meanwhile, will seek to end their losing streak against the DLSU Lady Spikers on Sunday, April 16.

In men's action earlier, the UP Fighting Maroons barged into the win column at the expense of the Blue Eagles, 13-25, 22-25, 26-24, 39-37, 15-12.

UP completed the reverse sweep after a tough 39-37 set win in a 49-minute fourth set.

Loisa Gamban was the best player of the breakthrough victory as UP improved their record to 1-9 with 22 points. Jaivee Malabanan added 21 markers as well.