Ateneo started slow and suffered from a first-set defeat, but the Blue Eagles awoke swiftly from their slow start, turning a 13-9 advantage in the second set into a 25-11 thrashing off a 12-2 final kick.

With nothing to lose, the Alyssa Bertolano-led UP kept having comeback opportunities in the final two sets, but Erika Raagas fired two consecutive hits that produced a 9-3 closing kick.

From thereon, Ateneo held firm until Vanie Gandler delivered four straight points and sealed the game in favor of the defending champions after an offspeed hit, to claim the 25-19 decider for the Blue Eagles.

After the battle of the Katipunan teams, Ateneo and Adamson, both with 8-6 records, will face off in the playoffs on Saturday at 5:00 PM.

Faith Nisperos led the Blue Eagles with 19 points from 16 attacks, two blocks, and one ace, AC Miner had 17 markers off eight kill blocks and nine spikes, while Gandler and Raagas chipped in 14 and 12 points, respectively.

Meanwhile, Alyssa Bertolano paced UP with 24 points, while Jewel Encarnacion contributed 18 markers to end the Fighting Maroons’ campaign with a 5-9 record.