A decade after their last championship title, the Accountancy Griffins (ACC) clawed their way back to the throne, soaring above the School of Nursing (SON) Panthers in a grueling four-set match, 3-1.
The championship match opened with the ACC Griffins capitalizing on SON’s service errors and defensive lapses to claim the first set, 25-17.
In the second set, SON Panthers unleashed their claws, pouncing on opportunities with powerful smashes to challenge the ACC Griffins’ lead, yet they were able to keep their talons on the advantage, seizing the set, 25-22.
The SON Panthers rallied to narrow the ACC Griffins’ lead, matching the Griffins blow for blow in a neck-and-neck third set; however, the SON Panthers roared back into contention, claiming the set, 25-20, to stay alive in the match amid ACC Griffins’ initial punishing smashes.
In the fourth and final set, the SON Panthers’ momentum waned as errors mounted, allowing the ACC Griffins to unleash relentless offensive assault, swooping in on every chance to score to deliver a commanding 25-16 victory, seizing the championship and ending their decade-long drought.
ACC Griffins team captain Karl Dustin Meija credited the team’s familiarity and mutual trust as the main strategies in securing the championship win.
“During the match, we just trusted each other. Kilala namin ang sarili namin on and off the court. We practiced months ago, and we’ve known each other for years, like from the prior Palaro. I guess familiarity and trust sa isa’t isa yung strategy namin,” he said.
Meija also added that the Griffins’ comeback was fueled by a shared drive to win, passed down by former team members and alumni.
“For this great comeback, personally as a third-year student, I have come across different graduates na alumni na. They share the same spirit, and they share the same sentiment of winning. I guess it’s just carrying the same sentiment and character sa court.”
The ACC Griffins clinched gold in the Men’s volleyball championship, followed by the SON Panthers with silver and the B&M Vipers with bronze.
The Palarong Atenista 2026 Men’s Volleyball Championship match was held on the 7th floor of Martin Hall on October 14.