THE ATENEO-MOTOLITE Lady Eagles earned their tenth win of the season with a four-set victory over the Adamson-Akari (AdU) Lady Falcons, 25-23, 16-25, 25-14, 25-20, in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Open Conference on Sunday, November 11, at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan.

Lady Eagles Head Coach Oliver Almadro fielded a familiar starting lineup featuring Bea De Leon, Maddie Madayag, Ponggay Gaston, Vanie Gandler, Kat Tolentino, Deanna Wong, and Dani Ravena at libero. Jules Samonte replaced Gaston in the second set while rookies Jaja Maraguinot and Erika Raagas were also given playing time in the same set.

Madayag filled up the stat sheet with eight spikes, four blocks, and three service aces. From the wings, Tolentino and Gandler contributed 12 points each with the latter also contributing 18 excellent digs and 10 excellent receives on defense. Ravena took charge of Ateneo’s floor defense as she notched 26 excellent digs and 17 excellent receives.

The Lady Eagles were off to a hot start in the match, leading by five at the first technical timeout (TTO), 8-3. An off the block kill by Bern Flora tied the game at 14-14. The scores remained close and a double contact violation by the Lady Falcons had both teams level at 23-23. A kill-block by Madayag and a spike off the block by Gandler won the set for the Blue and White, 25-23.

In the second set, Adamson-Akari blazed to a four-point lead by the first TTO, 4-8. The Lady Falcons then went on an 8-2 scoring run that cemented their lead, 6-16. Both teams continued to trade points and a kill off the block by Flora finished the set, 16-25.

The tables turned in the third set as the Lady Eagles sat comfortably ahead, 8-3, by the first TTO. Relentless offense and a few errors by Adamson kept the Katipunan-based squad on top entering the second TTO, 16-9. The Lady Falcons cut the deficit to four with a kill off the block by Chiara Permentilla, 18-14. Ateneo went on a 7-0 scoring run capped off by a setter dump from Wong that ended the third set, 25-14.

The Lady Eagles had all the momentum to start the fourth set, with a kill off the net by Gandler giving her team a three point lead at the first TTO, 8-5. De Leon’s attack error restored the deadlock, 14-14. It was an intense battle up until the end when a service ace by Madayag put the Lady Eagles up by three, 22-19. A long serve surrendered match point to the Lady Eagles to finish the game, 25-20.

Despite the win, the post-match press conference discussed more than just the Lady Eagles’ performance. Coach Almadro’s strict style of coaching, which he carried over from his time in the men’s volleyball team, was under criticism as some fans voiced their concern on social media for his focus on setter Wong in the yesterday’s defeat against the BanKo Perlas Spikers.

“I don’t put energy in the things I don’t have control [over], rather I put all my energy in the things I have control [of] which is my team,” said Almadro in response to the scrutiny. He went on to point out how well Wong played and the amount of risks she began to take as she recorded 28 excellent sets today compared to just 13 excellent sets yesterday.

Afterward, Almadro’s continuously repeated the statement, “I will sacrifice kindness so that my players will know what’s right from wrong.”

“Those who believe in us and those who fight for us win or lose [are important] because [they] give us added strength,” said Almadro who pointed out how he makes sure the team is not bothered by fans who criticize rather than support the team in the face of defeat.

The Ateneo-Motolite Lady Eagles will look to build on their 10-3 record in their last elimination round game against the PetroGazz Angels on Saturday, November 16 at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan City.

Set Score

Ateneo-AdU: 25-23, 16-25, 25-14, 25-20

Box Scores

Ateneo: Tolentino – 13, De Leon – 6, Gaston – 6, Wong – 5, Madayag – 4, Samonte – 4, Gandler – 2

AdU: Flora – 17, Permentilla – 12, Pinar – 9, Macaslang – 5, Ave – 4, Igao – 3, Ave – 2, Genesis – 1