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NU shackles Espejo, takes 1-0 Finals lead over Ateneo

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Camille Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/04/28/ateneo-volleyball-04282017.jpg"/><figcaption>NU&#x27;s Bryan Bagunas (1) fires a kill against Ateneo&#x27;s Gian Glorioso and Marck Espejo. Josh Albelda, ABS-CBN Sports.</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines (UPDATE) - National University limited the production of Marck Espejo to pull off a sensational sweep of Ateneo de Manila University in Game 1 of their UAAP Season 80 men&#x27;s volleyball Finals series on Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum.The Bulldogs got production from a variety of players, while also putting on a blocking clinic en route to a 25-20, 25-19, 25-23 victory for a 1-0 lead in the best-of-3 Finals.This was National U&#x27;s first triumph in the UAAP Finals since Season 76, when they last won the men&#x27;s volleyball championship. The Blue Eagles went on to win the next three titles, but the Bulldogs are now poised to end that run of dominance in Season 80.After averaging 46 points against Far Eastern University in the semifinals, Espejo was limited to only 16 points this time around, converting a relatively inefficient 16 of 44 attacks.He was outplayed by Bryan Bagunas, who had 19 points on 16 kills, two blocks and an ace, while James Natividad added 17 points. Madzlan Gampong scored 11 – five of which came on kill blocks as he served as the primary defender on Espejo.&quot;Nagkataon lang kasi talaga na &#x27;yung serve namin, talagang kumarga. Hindi sila naka-receive, tapos alam namin kung sino ba-block-in eh. Kasi every time na nag-misreceive sila, alam namin kung sino hahanapin ng setter,&quot; NU coach Dante Alinsunurin said of their game plan to stop Espejo.&quot;Kaya everytime na ganoon ang nangyari, sabi ko sa player na kahit pagkakataon, tatluhin natin. Kaya malaking chance natin na ma-block natin siya,&quot; he added.The Bulldogs pulled away in the closing stretches of the first two sets, particularly in the second frame when they broke an 18-all count by winning seven of the last eight rallies. NU completely shut down Ateneo&#x27;s offense in the final stretch while scoring on their transition opportunities.Bagunas personally took charge in the clutch, scoring the off-the-block kill to put the Bulldogs at set point, 24-19, before blocking Ron Medalla at the net to seal the deal.In the fourth set, they had to fend off a desperate rally by the Blue Eagles after the defending champions trimmed a 23-19 deficit to just one point, 23-22, thanks in part to National U&#x27;s own errors.But a huge block by Natividad on Espejo put momentum back to NU&#x27;s side. Espejo briefly stopped the Bulldogs&#x27; march with a kill, but the Bulldogs would not be denied as the towering Kim Malabunga buried a quick hit to wrap up the match in an hour and 19 minutes.&quot;Sobrang saya kasi &#x27;yung mga paghihirap namin may pagbubunga. &#x27;Yung mga sacrifices namin at hindi namin pag-uwi, &#x27;yung hindi namin makasama &#x27;yung family namin, may pagbubunga kaya sobrang saya,&quot; said Bagunas, who added six digs and 16 excellent receptions for a solid all-around effort.NU setter Kim Dayandante tallied 24 excellent sets, while Ateneo&#x27;s Ish Polvorosa only had 11 as the Blue Eagles struggled to receive the Bulldogs&#x27; loaded serves.Medalla was the only other Ateneo player in double digits with 11 points; the Blue Eagles, as a team, only had 36 kills. NU finished with 13 blocks to Ateneo&#x27;s seven.The Bulldogs can wrap up the series in Game 2 of the best-of-3 Finals on Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum.

National University limited the production of Marck Espejo to pull off a sensational sweep of Ateneo de Manila University in Game 1 of their UAAP Season 80 men's volleyball Finals series on Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum.

National University limited the production of Marck Espejo to pull off a sensational sweep of Ateneo de Manila University in Game 1 of their UAAP Season 80 men's volleyball Finals series on Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum.

NU shackles Espejo, takes 1-0 Finals lead over Ateneo

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NU shackles Espejo, takes 1-0 Finals lead over Ateneo

Camille Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Apr 28, 2018 01:48 PM PHT

|

Updated Apr 28, 2018 02:17 PM PHT

Read More:

UAAP

UAAP Season 80

UAAP volleyball

NU Bulldogs

Ateneo Blue Eagles

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