Ateneo de Manila University shrugged off a third-set stumble to stun top-seeded and previously unbeaten De La Salle University in four sets, 28-26, 25-16, 23-25, 26-24, forcing their 2025 V-League Men’s Collegiate Challenge semifinal series into a do-or-die Game 3 on Thursday afternoon at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
Eager to bounce back after yielding the third frame, the fourth-seeded Blue Eagles leaned on Amil Pacinio, Jian Salarzon, and Miguel Yu to halt the Green Spikers’ eight-game surge and keep their bid for a maiden V-League crown alive in the tournament organized by Sports Vision.
The victory also snapped La Salle’s eight-game winning streak, which stretched from their elimination-round clash up until their Game 1 triumph in the best-of-three semifinals. With the series tied, a high-stakes decider now awaits on Saturday, October 6, at the Ynares Center in Montalban, Rizal.
“Sinabi ko lang na kailangan nilang i-acknowledge na kaya nila at alam nila yung gagawin. Talagang may doubt pa sa sarili nila at sa kilos nila, pero thank you sa kanila kasi sila nag-trabaho nito, hindi ako. In-acknowledge lang nila yung gusto nila mangyari,” Blue Eagles head coach Vince Mangulabnan said.
The marathon fourth frame was a seesaw battle, with back-to-back miscues—a net touch by Salarzon and an overreach by JJ Rodriguez—allowing La Salle to tie the score at 22-all.
Salarzon, however, quickly made up for his error with a crosscourt strike, followed by a Chris Hernandez attack error that gave Ateneo match point at 24-23.
Hernandez recovered with an off-the-block hit to extend the set, but Yu answered with his own crosscourt conversion to hand the Blue Eagles another match point.
The duel finally ended when Eugene Gloria’s attempt went wide, sealing Ateneo’s gritty triumph in one hour and 58 minutes.
“Sobrang laki ng tiwala ko sa mga bata na ngayon na yung time na pwede kami maka-experience ulit sa sobrang tagal ng championship. Binigyan kami ni Lord ng opportunity at binigyan nila yung sarili nila ng opportunity makaapak ulit doon. Sana ma-grab namin,” Mangulabnan added.
Pacinio spearheaded Ateneo’s charge with 20 points built on 19 attacks and one ace, while Salarzon was close behind with 18 points off 16 attacks and two aces, along with 12 excellent receptions.
Yu also stepped up with 16 points and six excellent receptions, while middle blockers Brian Castro and rookie Rodge Alejos chipped in eight points apiece in the winning effort.
On the other side, Gloria carried the fight for La Salle with 16 points on 15 attacks and one ace to go with nine excellent receptions, while Issa Ousseini added 14 points.
