In line with the return of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Women’s Volleyball Tournament, this weekly series will analyze the state of the Ateneo Blue Eagles as they aim to soar higher in Season 86.
IN THEIR best week throughout the season thus far, the Ateneo Women’s Volleyball Team (AWVT) breathed back life into their Final Four bid with two stellar performances before the midseason break.
Remaining in contention with a 3-6 win-loss card, the Blue Eagles currently sit at fifth in the standings, two points behind the fourth-seeded Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws. In the final week of action in March, Ateneo gave the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Tigresses a run for their money in a five-set thriller, just ultimately falling short to the top-seeded squad, 2-3.
Gaining momentum from their valiant stand, the Blue Eagles came away with their first set-sweep victory of the season against Katipunan co-tenants University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons on March 24 to keep their semifinal hopes alive.
In order to bolster their fight for a Final Four ticket, the AWVT will have to redeem themselves as they face FEU on Thursday in an all-important matchup against their biggest threat in securing a semis berth.
- A tale of two rounds
Photo courtesy of Jillian Santos
Gab: The team has showcased numerous improvements since the first round. During their first faceoff with the Golden Tigresses, the Ateneo team went out quickly in straight sets. Looking back on how that game played out, I believe that what truly spelled disaster for the Blue Eagles was the lack of movement and commitment on the defensive end.
These mishaps throughout the contest gave the feeling that the team was still getting accustomed to the new system brought by Head Coach Sérgio Veloso. In every canto, the Blue Eagles would have moments of miscommunication or confusion, allowing huge runs for the opposition and eventually the lopsided loss.
In response to their lackluster showing the first time, a new mindset formed within the squad for their second-round outing. In the rematch, Ateneo pushed UST to five grueling sets, only being two points away from handing the then-undefeated Tigresses their first loss.
What stood out the most in this game, despite the loss, was the newfound resiliency of the team. Although they found themselves in similar six- to seven-point deficits, the Blue Eagles kept fighting back, matching the intensity and unity of the Tigresses both on attacking and receiving.
This valiant effort resonated with the Ateneo community, leading to #AllOutAteneo trending on X and a campaign to better support the team that trickled into their second-round matchup vs UP.
During their second matchup against the Fighting Maroons, this resurgence of fan support in-and-out of the arena seemed to help the Blue Eagles greatly, as they played an aggressive, more confident style. A dominant performance from Zel Tsunashima and Ateneo’s continued improvement on floor defense paved the way for Ateneo to capture their third win of the season.
This development of grit and conviction within the team places them at a better spot to contend for the Final Four. Only time will tell if this positive swing of momentum will lead to such a berth, but if this week is an indicator of what is to come, expect Ateneo to continue learning from their past games and keep fighting.
- Sustaining excellence
Photo courtesy of Francis Ong
Gabrielle: Following their show of athletic prowess in their matchup against UST, Ateneo reigned with their newly found confidence in their succeeding joust against their Katipunan counterparts. The Blue Eagles hold promises of a silver lining in the elimination round as they clinched their first set-sweep win of the season in a classic Battle of Katipunan. Carrying over the momentum ignited from their previous matchup against the Golden Tigresses, a familiar aura for the AWVT finally dominated the Blue and White.
After bouncing back into form, the Blue Eagles’ on-court chemistry became the backbone of their triumphant victory against UP. Libero-captain Roma Doromal shared that their strenuous feat is a result of Coach Veloso’s blocking system transcending to their in-game performance.
Alongside strengthening their team’s rapport, Ateneo’s willful attack front and polished floor defense also became a highlight in this feature. Opposite Hitter Geezel Tsunashima tallied 16 points in the statement match against UP with her assertive attacks throughout the game. Meanwhile, complimenting her offensive hustle was Doromal and her commendable defensive performance–keeping the ball alive with her strong digs and timely defensive stops.
Coming into the second round exhibiting impressive wing play and polished floor defense, AWVT has finally bridged the gap between their inconsistent attack fronts and defensive lapses. Given the sequence of their resilience and established momentum, the Blue Eagles now heed towards sustaining their excellence to solidify their Final Four bid.
- Now or never
Photo by France Vicente
Luis: As the Blue Eagles come back rejuvenated from a week-long break, there must also be a renewed sense of urgency for their upcoming matchup against FEU. With a win spelling the difference between a tie for fourth and a steep hill to climb at fifth, the AWVT should dig deep and sustain the fire that birthed their stellar run in the past week.
In our previous takeaways, I mentioned Ateneo’s current chances of making it into the Final Four, with the Lady Tamaraws as their main opposition in securing the most probable option for the fourth seed.
With their second round start, the Blue and White have done their job to keep in pace with the rest of the league, going +2 in sets across their first two games. Additionally, these fixtures propelled Ateneo to tie FEU in set wins with 15 apiece.
Moreover, I also mentioned Ateneo’s need to bank on their current top players on the statistical leaderboards, and the Blue Eagles certainly answered and checked all the necessary boxes required to keep themselves competitive.
Against UST and UP, starters like Sobe Buena, Lyann De Guzman, and Taks Fujimoto all stepped up in their respective departments, while Tsunashima proved to be a worthwhile mainstay for the Blue and White entering the final stretch of eliminations.
On the other hand, surprising standouts from the last week, including Anthea Selga, only add to Coach Veloso’s confidence with his rotation pieces moving forward.
With the Brazilian tactician mentioning the squad’s newfound identity in their last post game presser, this development should be a welcomed sign that the squad from Loyola Heights is here to prove their doubters wrong and make some late noise this season.
“Now, everybody can see how the Ateneo team can play at this level, no matter the opponent, we [keep] trying to do our best, that’s [what’s] most important,” Veloso shared.
Now that the league has their eyes on the Blue and White as legitimate Final Four prospects, this is the perfect time to prove that last week’s results were not simply by chance. With the Katipunan-based squad showcasing dedication into making this season more than just a rebuilding year, consistency must be at the forefront of Ateneo’s agenda.
Their fixtures against UST and UP should not end as “lightning in a bottle” moments, but rather, catalyze the Blue Eagles’ charge to solidify their bid after missing the Final Four last year for the first time since 2009.
This week’s game:
Thursday, April 4, 4:00 PM, vs. Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws at the Mall of Asia Arena
Current Standings (W-L):
- UST Golden Tigresses (9-1)
- DLSU Lady Spikers (7-1)
- NU Lady Bulldogs (8-2)
- FEU Lady Tamaraws (4-4)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles (3-6)
- UE Lady Red Warriors (2-7)
- AdU Lady Falcons (2-7)
- UP Fighting Maroons (1-8)
