Ateneo Blue Eagles during the Shakey’s Super League (SSL) National Invitationals Cebu Leg against USPF. –HANDOUT PHOTO
MANDAUE CITY, Cebu — The young and rebuilding Ateneo survived a tight battle against a gritty University of Southern Philippines Foundation, 29-27, 25-20, 24-26, 25-14, to kick off its 2025 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) National Invitationals Cebu Leg campaign on Friday at Mandaue Sports Complex here.
Beginning life without Lyann De Guzman and AC Miner, who turned pro, Brazilian coach Sergio Veloso saw his holdovers and rookies step up to win the first of three matches in the second leg of the SSL National Invitationals.
LIVE: Shakey’s Super League National Invitationals – Cebu Leg
Zey Pacia led Ateneo with 13 points off nine kills, two aces, and two blocks. Rob Silla and Faye Nisperos had 12 points each, while Gena Hora and Jihan Chuatico added eight points each.
Taks Fujimoto dished out 10 excellent sets as Dona De Leon, a recruit from Bacolod Tay Tung, also contributed with seven points in limited action.
“We have a lot of rookies and it’s a new system. They need to know how to play in this situation. You have the fans, you have an opponent and you have to feel this kind of pressure. It’s so different in practice. I know my team in practice but they need to know they can perform the same in the match. It is the most important now for us,” said Veloso.
Mitzi Pacia of Ateneo over Faith Salvador and Kat Inot during the Shakey’s Super League (SSL) National Invitationals Cebu Leg against USPF. –HANDOUT PHOTO
Ateneo blew a 24-22 match point advantage in the third after USPF hit the clutch kill blocks to score four straight points to extend the match to a fourth frame.
The Blue Eagles were quick to regroup and unleash an 18-10 spread with Hora and Chuatico capping the crucial run.
The Blue Eagles had to overcome a 17-20 deficit in the opening set before Silla and Pacia willed them back to gain the set point advantage off Nisperos’ kill, 24-23.
The Lady Panthers took a 25-24 advantage but their crucial errors allowed Ateneo to reclaim the lead before Pacia clinched the opening set, scoring off the hands of her defenders.
Ateneo’s second unit mounted an 18-12 margin in the third, but USPF never gave up until it trimmed it down to two, 22-20, off an ace from Juciel Nadera.
Rosal Selga came to the rescue with two consecutive kills, followed by Ana Hermosura’s hit for a two-set advantage.
Angelica Salvador powered the gallant stand of the Panthers with 17 points, while Cherish Dayame had 13.
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Ateneo faces Cesafi champion University of San Carlos on Saturday at 6 p.m. while USPF battles the Shaina Nitura-led Adamson at 4 p.m.
