Blue Eagles soar past Lady Generals

MANILA, Philippines — Ateneo grabbed the last playoff ticket in the Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Pre-Season Championship following a 25-13, 25-20, 25-16 sweep of Emilio Aguinaldo College at the close of the elimination round over the weekend at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila.

Faye Sophia Nisperos, sister of former Ateneo ace player Faith, hammered seven points to lead a balanced attack as the Blue Eagles finished with a 2-1 card to secure the second seed in Pool D, topped by Far Eastern U at 3-0.

Ateneo bowed to FEU the other day after squandering a two-set lead but rebounded with Sophia Beatriz Buena, Jennifer Delos Santos and AC Miner also producing six points apiece.

Veteran spiker and leading team scorer Lyann de Guzman only had five points this time but the Blue Eagles, under new coach Sergio Veloso, still proved too much to handle for the Lady Generals.

“It’s a big win but the most important is for our players trying to play within the system. It’s a new system where the players have to follow and they’re playing well within the system so far,” said Veloso, also the Philippine men’s volleyball team coach.

Ateneo will join reigning champion and leader National U of Pool A, No. 2 Arellano from Pool B and top-seeded Santo Tomas from Pool C in the next round where they carry over their cards.

Meanwhile, National U and Adamson also posted easy wins against Jose Rizal U and San Beda U at the end of the elims of the 16-team SSL backed by Mikasa, Eurotel, Victory Liner, Summit Bottle Water, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, R and B Milk Tea, Potato Corner, Rebel Sports, Converge ICT Solutions, Genius Sports and United Auctioneers, Inc.

NU wiped out Pool A by sweeping JRU 25-11, 25-12, 25-11 as Adamson topped Pool B with a 25-14, 25-10, 25-17 win over San Beda.

The Lady Falcons, who finished third in SSL Season 1 and runner-up in the SSL National Invitationals, will tangle with No. 2 University of the East of Pool A, No. 2 College of St. Benilde of Pool C and No. 1 FEU from Pool D in the next round.

The top two from each group make the semis.