THE Ateneo Blue Eagles overcame two nail-biting sets before dominating in the third set, securing a 25-23, 26-24, 25-9 victory against the defending champion National U Bulldogs. This win propelled Ateneo into the semifinals of the V-League Men’s Collegiate Challenge held at the Paco Arena in Manila on Wednesday.

Ateneo relied on their swift transition play to break away in the third set, surging to a commanding 16-6 lead and ultimately sealing their elimination round with a 5-2 win-loss record.

Ken Batas spearheaded Ateneo’s attack with an impressive 17 points, which included pivotal kills during the intense second set. He tallied 14 attack points throughout the match.

Jian Salarzon contributed 14 points, including three crucial blocks, while Amil Pacinio added nine points, including two vital spikes that capped a 3-0 turnaround in the second frame.

Jade Disquitado made a strong comeback with 11 points, while Michaelo Buddin settled for nine points for the Bulldogs. This loss dropped the Bulldogs to a 3-3 record, putting them in a must-win situation against the San Beda U team to keep their semifinal hopes alive.

In an earlier match, Far Eastern U kept their slim chances of reaching the semifinals alive as they defeated Emilio Aguinaldo College with a score of 25-21, 25-18, 25-21. FEU concluded the elimination round with a 4-3 record, with two more playdates remaining.

In a tight third set with the score tied at 20, the Tams turned to Dryx Saavedra, who led FEU’s 5-1 closing run with his powerful serves, before Andrei Delicana sealed the victory with a solid cross-court kill.

All 14 players nominated by FEU for the match had the chance to step onto the court, with Saavedra leading the charge with 16 points from 15 attacks and an ace. Setter Ariel Cacao played a pivotal role with 19 excellent sets and three attacks. (ai/mnm)