Photo by Fonz Bautista

By Soleina Vasquez

In the end, it is not the loss that lingers but the heart of those who rise and give their all, just like what Ymanuel Antonio Cervantes showed in the recent Ateneo High School (AHS) face-off with De La Salle Zobel (DLSZ) on Sunday, October 26, at the Paco Arena, where Ateneo fell to La Salle in straight sets, 17–25, 21–25, 15–25, in the opening match of the second round of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 High School Boys’ Volleyball Tournament.

“We didn’t perform at our best, but there were some people who really stepped up. Cervantes stepped up a lot, and that’s something I love to see in him,” Team Captain Lucas Miguel Garcia said.

Ethan Joseph Garcia hammered 7 kills and 3 digs, while Isaac Mairaki Macasero tallied 3 perfect attacks, 3 digs, and a service ace. However, it was Cervantes’ grit that stood out as he delivered 5 kills, a block, and 3 digs, sparking the team’s drive to fight harder. 

The first two sets followed a familiar pattern as La Salle took early control, while Ateneo hustled to close the gap, but to no avail, as Junior Archer Andrei Jordan Montillano relentlessly powered through with sharp spikes that sealed the sets, 17–25 and 21–25.

Ateneo’s team captain said the team was doing well in the first two sets, especially in the first half of each, as he tried to get their momentum up by getting their star spikers going right away and building up the team’s confidence.

This was also evident in the last set as Ateneo went head-to-head with La Salle, with Cervantes firing well-placed kills that evened the score at 8–8.

Nevertheless, La Salle broke away with a decisive 4–0 run, stretching the lead to 12–8. Montillano then tightened their hold on the advantage and sealed the sweep at 15–25.

“I think we really need a bit more chemistry together,” Garcia said as he talked about Ateneo’s performance.

On the other side of the net, Montillano led La Salle with 11 attacks, 2 blocks, and a service ace, while Gian Zach Diaz matched his energy with 6 kills and a block. Kyle Nicholas Aure also contributed 5 spikes, 3 blocks, and an ace, rounding out a dominant showing for the Green-and-White.

With their underwhelming opening, the Blue Eagles now look forward to redeeming their campaign in their next match against the University of Santo Tomas (UST) on October 28 at the Paco Arena.