Ateneo Blue Eagles react after losing to University of San Carlos in the Shakey’s Super League (SSL) National Invitationals Cebu Leg on Saturday. –HANDOUT PHOTO.
MANDAUE CITY, Cebu —Ateneo squandered a two-set lead and fell to University of San Carlos, 19-25, 23-25, 25-21, 25-21, 15-13, in the 2025 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) National Invitationals Cebu Leg on Saturday before a roaring home crowd at Mandaue Sports Complex.
When Faye Nisperos tied the fifth set at 13 for Ateneo, Esha Nassayao delivered a clutch hit to reach match point, 14-13. Nisperos then sent her spike into the net off a set by Taks Fujimoto, sealing the Lady Warriors’ comeback from a two-set deficit. The win gave USC a 1-1 record and a chance to compete for silver in the four-team field.
LIVE UPDATES: Shakey’s Super League National Invitationals – Cebu Leg
Angel Galinato and Ghanna Suan willed USC back with 18 points each, having identical stat lines with 15 kills, two blocks, and one ace each. Jerusha Atay was also instrumental with nine points after she scored two consecutive points to erase Ateneo’s 10-8 lead in the fifth.
“This is already a big deal for us because we’re coming from the province, and now we’ve managed to take down a team from Manila. It’s a huge boost to our confidence, and it’ll really help us improve moving forward,” said USC coach Grace Antigua after bouncing back from a four-set defeat to Adamson on Friday.
University of San Carlos celebrate a win over Ateneo in the Shakey’s Super League (SSL) National Invitationals Cebu Leg on Saturday. –HANDOUT PHOTO
“We told the players: enjoy the game, but you have to fight for every point. You always have to stay close in the score. And if we score five points ahead of them, that’s when we really need to be careful and stay focused.”
“This [SSL] is a great exercise for our upcoming Cesafi tournament, which is really our main focus and preparation.”
READ: Fujimoto takes young Eagles under her wings and helps Ateneo soar
USC capitalized on Ateneo’s 46 errors in the two-hour, 19-minute match to score a rare upset over a UAAP squad. The Lady Warriors next face fellow Cesafi side University of Southern Philippines Foundation for silver on Sunday at 4 p.m.
Ateneo had earlier looked in control after erasing a 20-22 deficit in the second set. Nisperos, the younger sister of former Blue Eagles standout Faith, sparked a 5-1 closing run with a clutch kill and an ace, capped by Zey Pacia’s attack for a two-set lead.
But the Blue Eagles lost steam in the last three sets despite Pacia scoring five of her 15 points in the fifth. Nisperos still finished with 17, while Jihan Chuatico and Rob Silla chipped in 13 and 10, respectively.
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Ateneo can still win gold with a three- or four-set victory over unbeaten Adamson on Sunday at 6 p.m.
