By Emy Manipol
MANILA--After their Cinderella 77th Season which led to their very first crown, the
Ateneo Blue Eagles will open their title defense of the title against the UST Growling Tigers as the men's volleyball tournament of the UAAP Season 78 holds its first serve on Jan. 30 with a doubleheader in a yet-to-be-named venue.
After the opening ceremonies at 7 a.m., the 8 a.m. match between FEU and UP will formally kick off the season, with the rematch of the beach volleyball finals set to serve at 10 a.m.
The second match is expected to be a spectacle as Oliver Almadro's Blue Eagles will hope to once again parade their 2-time MVP Marck Espejo to lead their offense. He and Ysay Marasigan teamed up to defeat the Growling Tigers last October to annex their maiden Beach Volleyball crown.
As for coach Odjie Mamon, the spikers of Espana are looking for redemption, after missing the title series last season despite being armed with a twice-to-beat advantage.
On the following day, Jan. 31, last season's runner-up NU will battle it out with Adamson in the second of the scheduled doubleheader at 10 a.m., right after the La Salle-UE tiff at 8 a.m.
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