Determined to grab their first championship in beach volleyball, Ateneo fielded beach volleyball veteran Ysay Marasigan and superstar rookie Marck Espejo for Season 78. The dynamic duo did not disappoint as they were crowned kings of the sand.
Playing together on the sand for the first time, the Espejo-Marasigan tandem immediately established their presence as they steamrolled passed the competition. However, Espejo recalled the challenges he experienced at the start, as it was his first time playing on the sand. “That was my first time din kasi mag beach volleyball kaya I had no idea paano yung rules (That was my first time playing beach volleyball, so I had no idea how the rules worked),” Espejo shared.
In order to adjust from the taraflex to the sand, Espejo underwent a rigorous three-month training to help him acclimate to the outdoor setting. On top of this, Espejo greatly benefited from Marasigan’s guidance while preparing for the road to gold. “Familiarity na lang talaga kasi halos magkasama naman kami on and off the court (It was our familiarity with each other that helped a lot because we were together on and off the court). He guided me that time,” he added.
“Proud ako sa sarili ko na naging part ako ng first UAAP beach volleyball championship ng Ateneo.”
Marck Espejo
Going into the season, the duo plowed through the elimination round with a spotless 7-0 sweep to set up a stepladder format in the playoffs. Their spotless record also gifted them with an automatic finals berth together and a thrice-to-beat advantage.
However, the stepladder format left the Blue and White tandem idly waiting for an opponent. Thus, when the finals series rolled around, Ateneo had to shake off their rust against a tough University of Santo Tomas (UST) side.
In game one, the rusty Ateneo side was grounded by a convincing 2-0 win from UST. The Blue Eagles bounced back with a narrow 2-1 triumph in game two, but UST showcased their resilience as they mustered another 2-0 win in the third game to force a do-or-die game four.
With the championship on the line, Espejo and Marasigan showcased newfound aggression in their 1-2 plays which rattled UST’s defense. “Nung finals lang lumabas yung ganong play namin. Kaya nagulat din siguro UST (It only came out in the finals. Maybe UST got surprised),” Espejo shared. Capitalizing on UST’s unforced errors, Ateneo secured the deciding game four, 2-0, handing Ateneo its first ever UAAP Men’s Beach Volleyball crown.
Apart from their championship crown, Marasigan was honored with the MVP award for his impressive performance. Meanwhile, Espejo impressed with his prompt adjustment to the sand. “Proud ako sa sarili ko na naging part ako ng first UAAP beach volleyball championship ng Ateneo. (I am proud that I became part of Ateneo’s first beach volleyball championship,” mentioned Espejo.
Forever etched in Ateneo’s history, Season 78 remains to be the Blue Eagles’ first and only beach volleyball championship to date.
