THE LADY Spikers banner the same coach as last year, showcase four out of five rookies in the line-up, have maintained almost the same nucleus for at least three years, and have excelled in tournaments prior to the UAAP season.
But four games into the season, the team is 1-4. On paper the team looks like a legitimate contender, but what might have caused their slide?
Game schedule
A factor might be their game schedule. Out of their first four games, the Lady Spikers faced two of the UAAP’s toughest: the UST Growling Tigresses and the DLSU Lady Spikers, last year’s championship contenders and both undefeated in Season 73.
Sandwiched in between were games against underdogs—the NU Lady Bulldogs and the UE Lady Warriors.
The Lady Spikers pushed the Growling Tigresses to five sets, trading points and tossing the volleyball around until UST’s veteran play took over. Star players Aiza Maizo and Rhea Dimaculangan proved to be too much for Ateneo’s blocking defense as they scored on easy spikes. The blue squad looked stunned after the game, as UST won the final two sets, still cementing themselves as viable contenders.
The De La Salle University Lady Spikers were just as tough, but it took them only four sets to dismantle Ateneo’s own Lady Spikers. Unable to defend DLSU’s attacks in the first two sets, they only regained their footing in the third set.
But their resurgence proved too late as La Salle’s length became Ateneo’s bane; their spikes can only do so much against Jacqueline Alarca and Michelle Gumabao’s blocking, and Stephanie Mercado did little to give Ateneo any breathing space. She scored 18 points off powerful spikes, leading her team to another W.
The game against NU was a breeze for the team, and the stellar team play that the team showed afforded Coach Roger Gorayeb the chance to parade his rookies and his bench, giving them valuable playing time and experience. And although no one could fathom how the team lost to UE, it was clear that the Lady Spikers were having problems closing out games; the team was losing the crucial sets.
Rookie team
Four rookies are being featured and Aerieal Patnongon, while technically not a rookie anymore, is playing her first full season for the Lady Spikers.
The team is adjusting its game to its new libero, Denn Lazaro, who has so far been playing like a seasoned veteran. Her game has transcended that of her predecessor, Stephanie Gabriel.
Ella de Jesus has been a pleasant surprise for the team, leading them in scoring in two outings. De Jesus is Coach Goryeb’s back-up open hitter when Angeline Gervacio has her off days. Despite her 5’2” stature, her vertical and power spikes have been contributed greatly.
Although both rookies have played well to merit minutes, Lazaro has showed her inconsistencies, and de Jesus still has much to improve defensively. Two other rookies, Bea Tan and Amy Ahomiro, have yet to give Coach Gorayeb significant burn on the floor.
Pressure points
The schedule, adjustment and pressure are all significant reasons, but junior Gervacio confirms that it is pressure, more than anything.
“This season is different, most probably because of everyone’s expectations. A lot are saying that we could make it to the final round and win the championship” she says. The ladies need to find that drive that secured them the spot of being underdogs-no-more.
The onus is on them to perform better, and the crowd is getting restless. The crowd turnout during the first game (where there were just as many blue shirts as there were yellow shirts) signals a growing support and at the same time, a growing number of hopefuls for the team.
“Coach keeps telling us that the games we’ll be playing will be 99% psychological and 1% physical. Puso. I think this is what it will take us to win everything,” says Gervacio.
The Lady Spikers have two games left for the first round; they play UP on December 19 and FEU on January 9.
Editor’s Note: Visit http://sports.theguidon.com for the full game recap of the December 19 game against UP.
