The Blue Spikers ran out of time and luck this UAAP season.
After losing to the University of the Philippines last February 3, Ateneo’s four wins were not enough to qualify them for the Final Four.
“I was actually disappointed because the starters didn’t show that they really wanted to win. Although I’m proud of Ricci [Gonzales]. He stepped up talaga. Julborg [Africa] delivered too,” team captain Ed Ortega shared.
The Blue Spikers were trying to duplicate their UAAP Season 72 comeback. Last season, they finished the first round at 2-5. Ateneo bounced back with a 6-1 slate in the second round, and ultimately copped the bronze trophy.
However, a series of unfortunate events hindered the Blue Spikers from matching their historic feat.
Their season had a rocky start, losing to defending champions University of Santo Tomas in their first match. That same week, their former Season 72 coach, Oliver Almadro, who now coaches the National University Bulldogs, defeated them 3-2.
“I think our standing in the first round really had a big impact. The team lost its morale,” continued Ortega.
To add insult to injury, their new head coach Boyet Delmoro resigned midway through the first round. The team then had to make do with their three assistant coaches taking turns as head coach in the subsequent games.
Aside from the coaching fiasco, the departure of last year’s UAAP Most Valuable Player AJ Pareja left a gaping hole in the line up.
The Blue Spikers have been accustomed to the leadership and game heroics of Pareja, who for five years was their go-to guy.
Ortega expounded, “The problem with the team now is how we finish games. There’s no end game. When we lost to La Salle, [Acting Head Coach] Timmy told us. ‘Ano? Masaya na kayo na nakakuha kayo ng isang set?’ (‘What now? Are you happy that you won one set?’)”
With a 3-9 win-loss record, Ateneo’s highest possible placing is fifth, assuming they win their last two games against National University and Adamson University.
The team captain adds that last year’s third place finish affected how they played this season. “We were pressured that we should at least match that,” he confided.
Even though the Final Four is beyond the Blue Spikers’ reach, Ortega maintains they will still play their hearts out in their last two matches.
“We’re still playing for the standing. And of course [for] the seniors who are graduating,” he ended.
Photos by: Joseph Angan
