ATENEO once again lifted the Spikers Turf trophy without dropping a match, beating National University, 25-14, 18-25, 25-20, 25-20, on Monday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig to sweep the best-of-three title series.
Tony Koyfman led the Blue Eagles with 15 points, 14 from attacks, Marck Espejo added 15 points and Joshua Villanueva chipped in with seven markers.
"It's good to win this one, but it's just a mark for the UAAP. We really want the UAAP championship this year. We really, badly want that championship," said Ateneo head coach Oliver Almadro.
Ateneo went nine-for nine this time after coming up with a 13-match sweep in the Spikers Turf last year.
The Bulldogs were up late in the fourth, 18-19, but an Espejo back row attack sparked a five-point Ateneo blitz that gave Ateneo back the lead and eventually the match.
Skipper Bryan Bagunas paced the Bulldogs with 15 points, Madz Gampong scored eight and Francis Saura added five markers.
La Salle defeated University of Santo Tomas, 25-16, 25-22, 19-25, 25-21, but the Tigers won the bronze by virtue of their three-set win in the opening match in the battle for third.
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