With a 12-2 record, the Ateneo De Manila University Lady Eagles completed their dominant run in the UAAP Season 81 Women’s Volleyball elimination round, but they know it only gets tougher from here.
“Ito na ‘yung simula ng totoong labanan. This is the real UAAP, the playoffs,” claimed Ateneo head coach Oliver Almadro after the Lady Eagles swept the UE Lady Warriors to cap the elims.
“Sabi ko nga, ito na yung importante – ‘yung chance. Now we’re in the Final Four, we have a chance to be in the Finals. And pagta-trabahuhan naming mabuti, and focused kami dito sa semifinals naman,” added the decorated Men’s Volleyball head coach, who is in his first year.
“Tapos na ang eliminations. One step forward na, semifinals na, so we will really pray hard and work hard to reach the championship series. So dito na nagsisimula, ito na yung labanan. Yung mindset namin is to really be back in the Finals.”
The Lady Eagles will face the team that eliminated them in the Final Four last season and ended their six-season streak of Finals appearances: the FEU Lady Tamaraws. This time around, though, the Lady Eagles hold the twice-to-beat advantage.
Ateneo stalwarts Maddie Madayag and Kat Tolentino are determined to give this series a different outcome.
“Well, systemically obviously iba ‘yung coach namin. But then I guess as a team we’re more intact. Our confidence is higher, and ayun nga, we trust each other more,” said Madayag.
“Mas buo kami, mas pamilya kami.”
“I think of course it’s a different system than last year, and just adjusting to it this year has shown that there’s a difference in it… And yeah,” Tolentino closed.
“I agree with Maddie that we’re learning to be a more strong unit than before.”
