SEASON 76 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) was definitely a successful stint for the Ateneo Blue Spikers and Lady Eagles. With both teams entering the final round, it was a moment to celebrate when the Blue Spikers were awarded the silver medal and the Lady Eagles were crowned the champions.

This season is looking promising for both teams, as the Lady Eagles have been preparing for the big title defense, while the Blue Spikers are eyeing their first championship title in 27 years. The increase in expectations is building up the players’ motivation to achieve their goals as they don the blue and white.

Photo by Andrea G. Beldua

Hungrier to end the drought

Last year, the Blue Spikers delivered an outstanding performance by rising from the seventh seed to the second best place in Season 76. The team, predominantly made up of rookies, went beyond expectations, since they only set their eyes on advancing to the Final Four in the first half of the season. Even though they fell short against the current two-time defending champions, the National University (NU) Bulldogs, the Blue Spikers’ stellar run served as a gauge to measure the team’s preparation for the upcoming season.

A week after Season 76 ended, the Blue Spikers immediately started to train under the guidance of Head Coach Oliver Almadro. They set a rigorous program with training sessions scheduled twice a day in order to secure their chances of winning the championship this season. Aside from continuously improving basic skills, which were already excellent last season, the new training program by Almadro focused heavily on aspects that they struggled with.

As additional preparation for the UAAP, the team, along with the Lady Eagles, was sent to Thailand for training sessions, where they were able to train and compete against Thailand’s greatest players and one of Vietnam’s volleyball clubs. “The experience helped us a lot [because] we picked up a lot [of] new skills,” says veteran Rex Intal in a mix of English and Filipino. “We were taught how to adjust, not only against our opponents, but also within the team.”

Having to learn to adjust is, in part, due to the team losing a major chunk of their core of vital veteran players such as Neil Flores, Ricci Gonzales and Season 76’s Best Receiver, John Paul Pareja. Despite the exit of these veteran players, the team made up for it with a lineup of four new recruits.

This season, National Collegiate Athletic Association Juniors Volleyball’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) John Rivera will immediately be filling in the position of Flores as the starting open spiker. On defense is 16-year-old middle spiker Jasper Tan, who will be threatening other teams with his towering height of six feet and four inches when he comes off from the bench. Utility spiker Raphael Santos will also be a key player in playing offense against other teams. Lastly, one of the most prized recruits is the four-time Best Libero in the Juniors level, Manuel Sumanguid III from NU. Unfortunately, he is forced to comply with the residency rule as he has yet to be released to play this season by the Bulldogs.

Returning veterans who will face this season with more experience and skill are also ready to share in the combined efforts of the team to win the championship. Utility spiker and Team Captain Ysay Marasigan has shown major improvements in both skill and leadership. Tomie Rivera will be maximizing his fifth playing year and will continue to play in the position of the libero. Sophomore key player Ish Polvorosa was awarded Best Setter last season and will continue to run for that campaign. Lastly, Season 76 Rookie of the Year and MVP Marck Espejo will be coming back with more expertise under his belt; he is expected to lead the team on their way to the championship.

Photo by Andrea G. Beldua

New expectations

While the Blue Spikers are hungry for a title, the Lady Eagles are back this season for a championship defense with a whole new set of expectations.

The Lady Eagles captured the hearts of millions in their journey to accomplish the impossible. They endured a playoff bout against Adamson University, followed by an elimination series against the second ranked NU Lady Bulldogs. The Lady Eagles went through both teams prior to eradicating the thrice-to-beat advantage of the top-seeded De La Salle University in the final round of Season 76. Ateneo shook the nation and wrestled the title away from the three-time defending champion, as they won three out of the possible matches. This run was famously condensed into a single word, uttered at every stop by Head Coach Anusorn “Tai” Bundit: “Heartstrong.” By the end of the tournament, “Heartstrong” became the official motto not only for the Lady Eagles, but also for all who witnessed their journey to the top.

The road back to their ultimate goal will be different from that of previous years. At the start of Season 76, the Lady Eagles set their goals a step at a time, as they had the initial objective of qualifying for the Final Four. But now, with the first taste of championship success ingrained in these women’s palettes, the hunger to deliver another championship is stronger than ever. Their current success is a far cry from the modest goals of yesteryear.

Even with expectations at an all-time high, veteran middle spiker Amy Ahomiro knows that the team will remain focused on the task at hand. “Obviously, we have expectations. Our management and coaching staff want us to get the back-to-back. Who wouldn’t? But as a team, us girls, we’re just trying not to let that kind of pressure get to us and just play every game, one game at a time. Hopefully all of our hard work and discipline pays off,” she says.

Despite the cautious mindset that the team is taking, the Lady Eagles are still very much in their prime. Returning to the lineup is Season MVP, Finals MVP, Best Scorer and Best Server Alyssa Valdez. Last season’s Best Digger and Receiver Dennise Lazaro will carry the libero duties, and veteran open spiker Ella De Jesus will also be coming back to the fold, both playing out their final year of eligibility.

The team may have lost some veteran experience, with Libero Bea Tan and Setter Natasha Faustino graduating, but the recruitment class of 2014 looks to make up for lost experience with promise and potential. Bea De Leon, Madeleine Madayag and Jamie Lavitoria will be making their debut for the Blue and White this season.

Despite the team ending both conferences of the Shakey’s V-League with fifth place finishes, they remain positive. They have, after all, achieved their goal of getting these rookies the additional experience they need in order to prepare for the upcoming UAAP games.

More than athletes

The success of Season 76 is far from unnoticed, and the Blue Spikers and Lady Eagles now face the added challenge of defending their titles under the bright light of the media. Some may see the added exposure as a distraction, but Ahomiro sees it as an opportunity for the team to be ambassadors of the game.

“I think it’s a blessing. Volleyball’s popularity is really rising, and I think we’re just honored and humbled to be a part of the uprising of the sport,” she says. She follows this up by stressing the attitude the team has taken as they face the season ahead. “We try to stay as humble as possible. We don’t want to let anything go to our head because that will affect our game. We don’t want the popularity to change us. At the end of the day, we’re just student-athletes who play the sport that we love.”

Both the Blue Spikers and Lady Eagles have achieved leaps and bounds from what they were initially expecting the season before. This year, heightened expectations and new targets on their backs will test both teams like never before. But with a combination of maturing veterans, promising rookies and a renewed hunger to win, the Blue and White are ready to take on all challengers this Season 77.