THE ATENEO De Manila University captured its first-ever championship crown in the men’s division of UAAP volleyball tournament in emphatic fashion yesterday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Ateneo dethroned the defending champion National University, 23-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-15.
Ateneo swept the best-of-three series, 2-0 and brought home its first men’s title since 1976 when they were still playing in the NCAA.
Marck Espejo, who won his second straight MVP award, matched his career high with 33 points, 28 coming from spikes. Skipper Ysrael Marasigan added 14.
Meanwhile, the La Salle Lady Archers marched to the finals for the sixth straight year as they outclassed the National University Lady Bulldogs in four sets, 26-24 21-25 25-18 25-21, in their sudden-death semifinal showdown.
The win set up a fourth finals showdown with the unbeaten defending champions Ateneo Lady Eagles with Game 1 set for Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. La Salle’s win though, just might have come at a great cost as top spiker Ara Galang was carried off the court on a stretcher because of an apparent left knee injury. Galang went out of the game with 25 points to her name.
Mary Joy Baron and Cebuana spiker Cyd Demecillo ably backed her up with 15 points each as La Salle bounced back from their rusty performance in the first stage of the step-ladder semifinals earlier this week.
Myla Pablo paced NU with 19 markers.