Sixth to second. Falling short this season, the Lady Beach Spikers look forward to taking the crown next season. Photo by Joseph S. Angan
“PUSO NA lang.” Simple yet strong words said by Lady Beach Spiker Alyssa Valdez as they were warming up for their final game of the season against UST.
Easy elimination round
The Lady Beach Spikers breezed through the elimination round destroying their opponents in straight sets. Their only match forced to a third set was against their archrivals from Taft, De La Salle University, where they easily finished them off, winning 15-2 in the third set.
Through the victories, the team ended the elimination round averaging an 8.0 deficit advantage over their opponents. Their solitary loss of the season was against the UST Tigresses who eventually defeated Ateneo for the championship. Their impressive run, however, placed Alyssa Valdez, Bea Tan and Cainglet on top, along with the 6-1 UST, who were led by league MVP, Judy Ann Caballejo.
Tan-Valdez, one two punch
The Lady Beach Spikers’ success was greatly due to the chemistry between Tan and Valdez. Valdez, the former Growling Tigress, debuted in this season’s UAAP as one of the top players in the league. Her athleticism accompanied by the strength of her spikes established Ateneo as a heavy offensive threat.
With Tan’s defensive hustle by her side, deep strikes from opponents were easily countered. Tan’s energy opened up opportunities for Valdez to deliver her aggressive attacks to the net.
Power, complimented by excellent court coverage, were the Lady Spikers’ competitive edge, giving opposing teams difficulty to make in-game adjustments.
The tandem’s firepower eventually translated into a finals berth. Facing the Adamson Falcons in the semi-final round, the much-improved San-Marcelino based team fell short to Tan and Valdez’s consistency. The match ended with the score line of 21-14, 21-18, 16-14.
The maturity to adjust to the pace of their opponent proved to be the edge the Ateneo tandem needed to overcome the nail-biting match. As Tan states in most of her post-game interviews, “we try to minimize as much errors as possible.”
The flowing momentum, however, was not enough to finish off the season with first place honors. Team Ateneo fell short in the finals against UST, despite pushing the finals series to three games. Their first game exhibited UST’s domineering strength, as the Growling Tigresses won in three sets, 16-21, 21-18, 15-9.
Tan and Valdez retaliated in the second game by adjusting to the Tigresses’ offense through well-executed blocks and consistent returns throughout the match. With the well-grooved and focused team, they captured game two with a convincing straight set victory, 21-19, 21-15. The victory forced a do-or-die third and final game.
UST’s experience and firepower, however, were too much to handle for the Lady Spikers, handing Ateneo a straight set defeat, 21-19, 21-16.
Dangerous Contenders
Jumping four places, from a sixth place finish last season to second this season—falling only one game short of title—is quite an achievement. Their willpower enough for a finals berth, foreshadows great performances in the future. With the experience garnered this year, expect these Eagles to return to the finals nest year, ready to capture the crown.
