Quezon city: Ateneo de Manila University secured a decisive win against Adamson University with scores of 25-19, 25-27, 25-22, and 25-20 on Wednesday, solidifying their position in fourth place in the UAAP Season 88 men's volleyball tournament at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
According to Philippines News Agency, Ateneo's victory was powered by the efforts of Season 87 MVP Kennedy Batas, along with teammates Amil Pacinio and Jian Salazon. This triumph marked their third consecutive win, bringing their record to 5-4. Batas delivered an impressive performance, scoring 24 points through 21 attacks, two aces, and one block, complemented by 15 excellent receptions and three digs.
In an earlier match, the University of Santo Tomas broke De La Salle University's four-game winning streak with a 25-18, 30-28, 25-23 victory. This win allowed UST to maintain their third-place position with a 6-3 record, trailing behind Far Eastern University (8-1) and National University (7-2). De La Salle fell to fifth place with a 4-5 record, followed by UP (3-6), Adamson (2-7), and University of the East (1-8).
Ateneo head coach Vince Mangulabnan expressed gratitude for his team's adherence to the game plan, highlighting the collaborative effort involved in its development. "Thank you to them. Thanks to their efforts that they just stuck to the game plan. This game plan or game guides, is a collective effort indeed. We really brainstormed and really took all of everyone's ideas until we got the perfect guide," Mangulabnan stated.
Alongside Batas, Pacinio contributed 18 points, Salazon added 11 points and 11 receptions, and Brian Castro scored six points through four blocks and two attacks. Enzo Gutierrez facilitated the team's offense with 23 excellent sets and four points, while Lance de Castro made 18 receptions.
Adamson's Mark Leo Coguimbal stood out with 15 points, featuring nine blocks, five attacks, and one ace-the highest number of blocks since teammate Richard Besorio achieved nine blocks in a previous match against University of the East. Maruel Iverson Tan supported with 14 points, Richard Besorio added 13 points and 13 receptions, and Andrew Tahiluddin and Lance Flestado contributed eight and six points, respectively.
