In line with the ongoing Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Open Conference, this bi-weekly series will analyze the state of the Ateneo-Motolite Lady Eagles in their journey to prepare for the upcoming season.

Recap of the week

Photo by JV Rabano

The new-look Ateneo-Motolite Lady Eagles started off their PVL campaign with a thrilling four-set win against the Pocari-Air Force (POC) Lady Warriors 25-23, 17-25, 25-20, 30-28, on September 23 at the Imus Sports Complex in Bacoor Cavite.

FINAL: The Ateneo-Motolite Lady Eagles take down the Pocari-Air Force Lady Warriors in four sets with Kat Tolentino taking POG honors.

25-23, 17-25, 25-20, 30-28#PVL #HeartStrong pic.twitter.com/MUPttKqUkc

— James Gavina (@James_TheGUIDON) September 23, 2018

They followed it up with a victory in five sets where the Lady Eagles came back from a 2-1 deficit against the PetroGazz (PGZ) Angels 25-21, 17-25, 19-25, 25-14, 15-7, on Saturday, October 6 at the FilOil Flying V Center in San Juan City.

[5th set] Team Captain Bea de Leon finishes the match for her team with a service ace!

Ateneo 15 PGZ 7 #PVL pic.twitter.com/nT0utKvym7

— Ally Crespo (@Ally_TheGUIDON) October 6, 2018

On the following day, Ateneo-Motolite matched up versus the BanKo Perlas (BKP) Spikers who handed the Lady Eagles their first loss of the season in straight sets 25-27, 19-25, 11-25, to take the solo lead at the top spot in the standings.

FINAL: The Ateneo-Motolite Lady Eagles fall to the undefeated Banko Perlas Spikers in straight sets.

25-27, 19-25, 11-25#PVL #HeartStrong #OBF pic.twitter.com/hnE1tKhCYw

— The GUIDON Sports (@TheGUIDONSports) October 7, 2018

Upcoming games

Saturday, October 13, 4:00 PM vs. Iriga City-Navy (0-5) at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.

Sunday, October 15, 4:00 PM vs Adamson-Akari (0-4) at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.

Wednesday, October 17, 4:00 PM vs Tacloban (2-3) at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.

Photo by Joshua Tan

1. From Green and White to Blue and White, Gandler takes flight

The Lady Eagles welcome five versatile rookies to their Premier Volleyball League roster including Vanie Gander. Hailing from De La Salle Santiago Zobel (DLSZ), Gandler safeguarded their defense at the net as a prominent middle blocker in the high school leagues. She continued to earn attention from the collegiate volleyball world as she went on to compete in the Shakey’s Girls V League.

Donning the Blue and White jersey for the first time, she played as an open spiker in her debut game against Pocari Sweat Air-Force. Despite playing alongside well-known veterans, the promising rookie was able to garner nine points in the four set win.

She continued her momentum in her first five-set thriller for the Lady Eagles against the PetroGazz Angels (PGZ). Proving her versatility, Gandler contributed everywhere on the court. She provided huge blocks at the net, great coverage on floor defense, and a variety of attacks as she produced a total of 15 points. Gandler did not show any rookie jitters in the five-setter, where she pulled through in the deciding set as an asset rather than a liability.

[5th set] Gandler goes cross court!

Ateneo 7 PGZ 3 #PVL

— Ally Crespo (@Ally_TheGUIDON) October 6, 2018

Gandler experienced her first loss as a Lady Eagle in the heartbreaking game against the unbeaten BanKo Perlas Spikers. Up against many former Lady Eagles, Vanie got a taste of what Ateneo’s firepower used to be like. After showing performances beyond her age in the first three games, Gandler will have more opportunities to make her presence felt on the scoreboard.

2. Height is might

The Lady Eagles have always boasted an intimidating blocking force, and this year is no exception with fifth year veterans Bea De Leon and Maddie Madayag in charge of defense at the net. On the right side is Deanna Wong, the best blocking setter in the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 80 while her opposite spiker as she rotates into the backrow is the towering 6’3” Kat Tolentino. On the left is Gandler who spent her time in high school as a middle blocker.

The team’s main strength has always been their height and when combined with the tactical genius of head coach Oliver Almadro, Ateneo-Motolite is the second best blocking team in the PVL with an average of 2.58 kill blocks per set.

The Lady Eagles are set to improve their blocking further with the return of beach volleyball players Ponggay Gaston and Jules Samonte, with the latter ranking 10th in blocking for UAAP Season 80.

3. “Walang duwag na Ravena”

Returning as a libero, Dani Ravena has been the backbone of Ateneo’s defense for their first three games in the league. She is the third Lady Eagle libero converted from setter in recent years.

Despite the role change, however, Ravena still contributes to the playmaking for the Lady Eagles. In times when Wong receives the first touch, Ravena steps in to keep the play intact for the Blue and White. Through immense changes in game play, technical skill, and mindset, she continues to hold the floor on her own.

During the first game against a seasoned Pocari Sweat Air-Force, Lady Eagles’ Head Coach Oliver Almadro pulled her aside as the defense of the girls was falling apart in the third set.

[3rd set] Another kill by Pablo prompts the Ateneo timeout.

Ateneo 9 POC 10#PVL pic.twitter.com/Ms3G2ihcfH

— James Gavina (@James_TheGUIDON) September 23, 2018

“Ravena ka. Walang duwag na Ravena (You are a Ravena. There are no cowardly Ravenas),” he said. In the same way she accepted the challenge to convert to libero, she bounced back and helped her team seal their first win.

4. New coach, new system

Almadro had been coaching the Blue Eagles since UAAP Season 76 until he signed on as the head coach for the Lady Eagles this year. The veteran Ponggay Gaston described Almadro’s style of coaching as very similar to that of former mentor Tai Bundit who has since left the Ateneo Volleyball Program. Coach Almadro adopted many aspects of Bundit’s Thai style of coaching, such as the meditations in between sets that gets their mind in the right order.

One noteworthy difference between the two is the language barrier that kept Bundit’s instructions brief and repetitive during timeouts.

Contrastingly, Almadro has been making the rounds on social media for his recent motivational speech with Ravena. Without this communication gap, it is interesting to see how Almadro, who has a similar system, will influence the match from the sidelines.

During a coaching-related transition, players inevitably need a significant adjusting period and only time will tell how well his style of coaching will translate in the longer rallies and slower tempo that characterize the women’s game. With the PVL season still in a premature stage, the Lady Eagles will have a significant opportunity to adjust to their new mentor and his new system.