With a spot in the finals in their sights, the Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles may not be very pleased at the moment.
So far, Coach Bob Manlulo’s team are in last place with only a win to show after four games.
Speaking after a tough 2-1 loss to the Far Eastern University last week, Ateneo midfielder Aina Martin was visibly disappointed with the result but insists that they have what it takes to recover. “Very disappointing because it’s a really good opportunity for us to bounce back ranking-wise and we wasted it,” she initially said.
Having been forced to settle for third in the last three seasons, the Lady Eagles were ahead early on courtesy of a Camille Rodriguez strike, but their opponents overturned the result at the end of the game. As a consequence, Ateneo remained at the foot of the table together with UST after the first round.
Given the outcome of that match, and perhaps how their season is turning out, the senior hinted at the team’s inability to execute when it matters. ”Siguro we didn’t want it as much as FEU did. Even as much as we thought that we did and as much as we prepared enough for it, come game time we weren’t able to show and push as we thought we could and wanted,” Martin lamented.
“I think it just goes to show that as much as we prepare hard for it, no good outcome will push through if you don’t perform in the game.”
Pressure is also something she identified as a factor, especially at this point where every game in the season is crucial. “If we win this, our rankings will go up. If we lose this, our rankings go down. I think it’s less of skill and more of the mental aspect,” she observed.
Now, the veteran thinks it’s time for them to embody their university teams’ battle cry, “One Big Fight”, as they go through a gruelling chase for a seat in the finals. “I believe the team is strong enough to bounce back. I believe that we’re all fighters. We get knocked down, all of us will rise together. Yes it was hard, we want to win. I believe that we’re going to fight through together,” she expressed.
Aware of the task ahead, Ateneo may have to approach every game as a final now.
They are still in the hunt despite their poor start to the season, as they are only three points behind the University of the Philippines and FEU, who are tied in second place as of this posting.
Martin and the Lady Eagles have the perfect chance to redeem themselves as they square off against FEU — their most recent opponents — tomorrow afternoon at the McKinley Hill Stadium. Not willing to take any match for granted, Martin is eager to lead her team to a run she hopes would end in the final come the first of May.
