Ateneo de Manila University and University of the Philippines hurdled their respective rivals in the opening phase of the classification round to set a battle for fifth showdown in the 2025 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Preseason Unity Cup on Sunday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Blue Eagles arrested a six-game losing skid at the expense of College of Saint Benilde, 25-18, 25-11, 24-26, 25-16, while the Fighting Maroons swept San Beda University, 26-24, 25-23, 25-22.
Ateneo and UP will dispute a consolation fifth-place finish in the league’s centerpiece tournament backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner and R and B Milk Tea on Wednesday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
Ana Hermosura spearheaded the Blue Eagles’ assault with 15 points, anchored on 13 kills and two aces. Zey Pacia and Jihan Isabelle Chuatico added 14 and 11 markers, respectively, for Ateneo, which outhit CSB, 59-35.
Hermosura sparked the Blue Eagles’ telling 10-0 blast that shattered a 13-13 deadlock with a booming hit followed by an ace before closing the run with another service winner to zap the fight out of the Lady Blazers.
“Ang naging key ingredient namin sa larong to ay sundin yung system ni coach and sumunod lang namin si Coach (Sergio Veloso),” Hermosura said.
“Siyempre crucial ‘yung game so ang mina-mindset ko every game ay sundin ang sinasabi ni coach and magtiwala lang sa mga seniors ko na kasama ko sa loob (ng court).”
The Blue Eagles had a chance to close out the match in the third set but squandered a match point advantage, 24-23, after Dona De Leon and Hermosura committed back-to—back errors before Zam Nolasco stole the frame for CSB with an off-the-block kill.
Nolasco led the four-time NCAA champions with 14 points as the lone Lady Blazer in double figures. Camila Bartolome and Shekaina Lleses scored eight and seven points, respectively, for CSB, which allowed Ateneo to land 10 aces.
Meanwhile, Casiey Dongallo fired 10 points in the Fighting Maroons’ one-hour, 45-minute triumph over the gritty Lady Red Spikers.
Bienne Bansil added nine markers while Yesha Noceja got eight points for UP.
The Fighting Maroons found San Beda a tough nut to crack but managed to pull through in the extended opening set before staving off the Lady Red Spikers in close decisions in the last two frames.
Angel Habacon paced San Beda with 10 points, Jeliane Catubig got nine while Janelle Bachar and Katleya Molina chipped in eight each.
The Lady Red Spikers and Lady Blazers try to salvage a seventh-place finish when they meet on Wednesday.
Games in the SSL Preseason Unity Cup are available live and on demand via PusoP.com and Solar Sports.
