Ateneo Men's Volleyball Match #3 Digging Deep

Ateneo vs Adamson
22-25, 18-25, 21-25

Match #3
December 6, 2007
Blue Eagle Gym

This is one of those games where the final numbers don’t begin to tell the story. The Ateneo Men’s Volleyball team lost its eighth straight set and fell to Adamson in three at the Blue Eagle Gym. Unlike in the previous outing versus UST where they came out flat, the team heeded coach Ronald Dulay’s calls for more spunk and fight with inspired play from the get-go.

AJ Pareja held serve for four consecutive points while getting some superb blocking from a pumped up Martin Limgenco. The team’s blood and guts player had three blocks that the blue and white converted into points and Ateneo went up 9-4 early in the first set.

The backline shaky and porous in their previous game held firm this time. Juan Carlo Dulu was spot on with his digs while not conceding any easy points to the Falcon’s high jumping frontline. Unfortunately, AJ Pareja’s spikes despite clearing the Adamson blockers weren’t finding their mark. Adamson capitalized on Ateneo’s misfires for a 17-21 lead. Julborg Africa’s dig revitalized Ateneo as they racked up three straight points that forced the Falcons into a 30-second timeout. But poor execution did Ateneo in as the rally fell short 22-25.

Despite conceding the first set, the Blue Spikers trooped to the west end of the gym for the change court with determination to forge a tie and get that elusive first win.

Blue Spikers captain Timmy Sto. Tomas who was silent in the first set made his presence felt in the second. He snuck in a spike and set up his teammates as they kept pace with the Falcons at 13-15 for Adamson. Then after a series of errors and poor blocking one could see the fight sapped out of the team as they fell perilously behind at 14-23. However, an ace by Mark Salvador gave some life to the team. After an Adamson sideout, AJ Pareja held serve for three straight points that he punctuated with an ace to bring Ateneo closer at 18-24. But that was the closest the team would get.

Falling behind by two sets to love can be daunting for any team, but Ateneo wasn’t showing it. Sto. Tomas’ powerful jump serves were giving Adamson problems all game long and his ace gave the Loyolans a 4-1 lead in the third set. But the San Marcelino boys’ roof stopped Pareja cold and Adamson once more wrested the lead. Limgenco’s blocking along with Mike De Joya’s spikes gave Ateneo its last taste of the lead at 13-10 before poor communication and defense once more finished off the home team.

From all accounts, the team’s practice the day before was one of their best. Yet when the pressure was on they reverted back to their bumbling stumbling ways. A visibly upset Dulay searched for answers after the match. Despite being hit by injuries to Eduardo Ortega and Paolo Pareja, the team has showed it could compete. The Blue Spikers not only have to play with a lot of heart and energy but they have to get rid of that nasty habit of falling apart once they concede a point.

After the game as the men’s and women’s teams prepared for a late afternoon practice, AJ Pareja sat by lonesome near the water cooler. “I have to play harder,” he said no doubt kicking himself for his inability to smash in some points that could have swung the game Ateneo’s way. “I have to get better. No, actually, we have to get better.”

He wiped the sweat of his face then joined the team as they prepared for drills.


Notes: Ateneo University Athletics Director Ricky Palou has successfully lobbied the University that volleyball be elevated into a premier sport within the school. It may not be on par with basketball, but it will get the same support that football receives among others. “What this means is that we’ll see better recruiting, better training, and more support for the men’s and women’s programs. Volleyball is a great spectator sport and it is something where not only we as a school, but we as a country can thrive in. Yes, we have a long long way to go, but it can be done.”

Palou’s statement doesn’t mean that other sports will be neglected. The indefatigable former Blue Eagle together with his staff has been working hard to improve all the varsity teams.