Ateneo, UP dispute Spikers’ Turf lead

MANILA, Philippines - UAAP champion Ateneo tests University of the Philippines’ mettle as they clash for the Group B lead today while NCAA titlist Emilio Aguinaldo College seeks to move on top of Group A against winless Mapua in the Spikers’ Turf Season 1-Collegiate Conference at The Arena in San Juan City.

The Eagles toppled the two La Salle teams in the first two weeks of the first-ever men’s inter-collegiate tournament presented by PLDT Home Ultera, beating the Taft-based squad in four last July 15 and then sweeping the other squad from Dasmariñas, Cavite to seize control of their division.

But the Maroons matched that 2-0 start with a pair of 3-1 romps over Arellano and St. Benilde, making the 5 p.m. clash of the Katipunan-based squads a match to watch.

But Ateneo seems to have the edge – in manpower and experience – with coach Oliver Almadro boasting of talents in reigning UAAP MVP Marck Espejo, Ishmael Rivera, Rex Intal, Ysrael Marasigan, Ron Medalla, Paul Koyfman, Joshua Villanueva and setter Joner Polvorosa and liberos Dan Posadas and Manuel Sumanguid III.

But UP mentor Melchor Santos and his Maroons are out to spring a surprise the way they did against the Chiefs and the Blazers. Skipper Alfred Valbuena spearheads the gritty UP side that also includes the crisp-hitting Julius Raymundo, John Millete, Wendel Medel, Gian San Pascualm, John Madrigalejos, playmaker Charles Acuna, liberos Victor Luna and John Nasol.

Meanwhile, the Generals are heavily favored to chalk up their third straight win and break off a tie with the idle National U Bulldogs and the surprising NCBA Wildcats as they collide with the Cardinals in the 1 p.m. opener of another explosive triple-bill of the tournament backed by Mikasa and organized by Sports Vision.

EAC, led by the power-hitting Howard Mojica, whipped UE, 3-0, then trampled FEU to force a three-way tie for the Group A lead while Mapua dropped its first two games to NU and NCBA.

FEU and UE, on the other hand, face off at 3 p.m. in a duel of winless teams with the winner staying in the hunt for the last quarterfinal berth in the event played on Mondays and Wednesdays.