As the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 Women’s Volleyball tournament has commenced, this midseason takeaways will assess the current state of the Ateneo Women’s Volleyball Team (AWVT) as they enter the critical stretch of the tournament.
FOLLOWING THEIR first-round victory over the University of the East (UE) Lady Warriors, the Ateneo Women’s Volleyball Team (AWVT) rests in the seventh seed of the standings with a record of 1-6. With a much-needed win under their belts, the AWVT looks to build upon this victory in the next round while reflecting upon the outings behind them.
The Blue Eagles opened the season plagued with uncertainty, suffering a straight-set loss to the Adamson University (AdU) Lady Falcons.
As the season progressed, however, the Blue Eagles showed signs of growth. Nabbing a 2-0 set lead over the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons and handing the De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Spikers their first set loss, Ateneo provided glimpses of their early-season development.
Ultimately, Ateneo managed to get on the board after a sweep of UE. Unleashing a strong offensive barrage, it was during this showdown that the Blue Eagles truly displayed what they can achieve as a unit.
With the second round looming, the Katipunan-based squad will look to sharpen execution and tighten defense in the hopes of turning promising performances into much-needed wins.
Time to win
Mario: After capturing their first win of the season, it felt like a massive weight was lifted off the shoulders of the Blue Eagles. In a game that displayed the Katipunan-based squad’s best form of UAAP Season 88 so far, Ateneo finally displayed the true potential of a rising young squad eager to break through. However, as the teams enter the second round of competition, turning lessons into success must be the top priority for the AWVT.
The Blue Eagles had to settle for lessons learned for most of the first round games, despite impressive performances against DLSU and UP. As a result, the team still found itself in the loss column, together with a young roster yet to find its rhythm.
The talent on the court is evident across the board, with both rookies and veterans alike having standout performances throughout the first round of eliminations. Prized rookies Dona De Leon and Ana Hermosura have delivered to an exceptional level, and the defensive prowess of Stephanie de Chavez has been outstanding. Meanwhile, veterans Jlo Delos Santos and Zel Tsunashima have brought much-needed composure to the squad. Yet, skill will only take a team so far, and although the Blue and White have no shortage of it, it ultimately comes down to how well they can all put it together.
Entering the second half of the season, Ateneo is no longer searching for pieces but rather trying to find the perfect fit with the players they have. From emerging offensive options to steady defensive anchors, the Blue Eagles can compete on any given day of the week. The challenge now lies in sustaining that level of play and finding ways to close out games when it matters the most.
Sophomore star Jihan Chuatico summed it up perfectly in her post-game presser following their maiden win in Season 88: “I woke up and said I don’t want to learn today, but I want to win.” If Ateneo is to turn a promising campaign into a meaningful one, that mindset will have to define the rest of their season.
Slowly but surely
Gabrielle: On paper, the 1-6 win-loss record is an underwhelming status for the Katipunan-based unit. However, the opening half of the tournament also captured how the Blue and White fully embraced their underdog status and growing pains as a rebuilding roster.
Despite the pressure to climb the standings, Ateneo remained consistent in its pursuit of improvement. In their ascent, the formidable trio of Delos Santos, Hermosura, and Chuatico delivered impressive outings to solidify Ateneo’s intent of staying afloat.
As mentioned by Mario, the timely return of Delos Santos became the driver of the squad’s much-needed composure in crucial games. Her efforts toward steering the offensive momentum for the Blue and White do not go unnoticed, especially after chipping in 21 points in her squad’s matchup against their Katipunan counterparts.
Trailing behind the veteran is star rookie Hermosura, who flaunted her athletic prowess during the Blue Eagles’ matchup against their longstanding rivals. Her strenuous feat of 18 attack points for the Blue Eagles contributed significantly to their second set win against the Lady Spikers.
Adding to Ateneo’s offensive hustle is sophomore Chuatico, whose pivotal role in the Blue Eagles’ battle against the Lady Warriors handed them a straight-set victory. The middle blocker bagged Player of the Game honors after contributing 13 points off seven attacks, five blocks, and an ace.
The continuing developments of their young core proved that the Blue Eagles are not backing down despite facing a rough start to the postseason. Now, it is just a matter of capitalizing on these talents in the second round.
If the Blue Eagles continue to leverage their stream of greatness, Ateneo can exude a cohesive identity and familiar territory for the Blue and White.
Unsung heroes
Diego: In a season of fine margins, depth often spells the difference between playoff hopefuls and championship contenders. Beyond Ateneo’s starting six, credit must be given as well to the bench for providing the spark plug that has kept the Blue and White in the fight.
Case in point, Tsunashima reminded everyone why she is a valuable asset for the Loyola Heights-based outfit. Despite having only recently recovered from her lower leg injury, this has not stopped Tsunashima from making the most of her time on the floor. The hitter’s unmatched grit was shown during the Blue Eagles’ clash against the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws, where she led Ateneo’s offense after notching 11 markers. Additionally, her timely scoring runs in this matchup were crucial in keeping up with the Morayta-based group.
Junior Yssa Nisperos is also no stranger to stepping up for Ateneo, displaying glimpses of potential across certain portions of the first round. Take the Blue Eagles’ first set against the University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses. On the brink of defeat, Nisperos came off the bench and immediately scored four attack points that extended the set for the Blue Eagles.
Finally, Alex Montoro has shown immense maturity in executing her role despite only being in her second year of UAAP action. Highlighting her offensive impact, Montoro managed to aid Ateneo en route to their first victory of the season against UE through well-placed attacks.
It is evident that the Blue Eagles have strong pieces that complete a well-tooled roster that is capable of standing toe-to-toe with some of the league’s very best. Now, the challenge lies in maximizing their capabilities in the closing round.
Upcoming games:
Saturday, March 21, at 1:00 PM, vs. University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City
Wednesday, March 25, at 3:00 PM, vs. Adamson University Lady Falcons at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City
Current Standings (W-L):
- DLSU Lady Spikers (7-0)
- NU Lady Bulldogs (6-2)
- FEU Lady Tamaraws (5-3)
- AdU Lady Falcons (4-3)
- UST Golden Tigresses (4-3)
- UP Fighting Maroons (3-5)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles (1-6)
- UE Lady Red Warriors (0-7)
