The 2016 Shakey’s V-League Collegiate Conference has served as valuable learning ground for both the San Sebastian College-Recoletos Lady Stags and the Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles.
Both programs were coming off bitter endings to their respective collegiate leagues heading into the 13th SVL season. San Sebastian had swept the NCAA elimination round only to squander their outright Finals berth and thrice-to-beat advantage to the College of Saint Benilde Lady Blazers. Ateneo, on the other hand, saw their two-year reign at the top of the UAAP end at the hands of archrivals De La Salle University Lady Spikers.
Both programs are also at different points in their growth. The Lady Stags are currently on a four-year NCAA title drought, the longest since Roger Gorayeb started coaching the team. Playing in her fifth and final year of eligibility, two-time NCAA MVP Grethcel Soltones is under immense pressure to deliver an indoor championship before she leaves Ermita.
Ateneo, on the other hand, have lost their MVP. Three-time UAAP MVP Alyssa Valdez had carried the Loyola spikers since her debut in UAAP Season 74, starring in both their title runs of Season 76 and 77. Having also headlined several National Teams and title-winning clubs, Valdez was irreplaceable, the remaining Lady Eagles knew.
So it was predictable that the Lady Eagles would stumble early in the season. They dropped 52 errors in their opening day loss to the unheralded Technological Institute of the Philippines Lady Engineers. San Sebastian then handed Ateneo their second straight loss, which included the Lady Eagles improbably letting a 23-10 advantage slip in the third set.
But the Lady Eagles recovered, adjusted, and found ways to win. They wound up taking their next three games to qualify for the quarterfinals where they finished with a 2-3 record.
“We weren’t really looking at winning games heading into this season,” said Ateneo team captain Michelle Morente. “We knew that we were a young team and a lot of us are adjusting to new roles. It was going to take time for as to get used to our new team.”
“We just went into every game thinking about improving and executing what we did in practice.”
A team known for needing scoring outbursts from Soltones to win, the Lady Stags matured into a better-rounded contender. Denice Lim, Kath Villegas, and Nikka Dalisay have each taken their turn helping Soltones score points, which left the the SVL Open Conference MVP with more energy in crucial situations.
The Lady Stags placed second in Group A and entered the quarterfinals with three matches lined up against UAAP giants. They took down Eya Laure and the University of Santo Tomas Tigresses, and managed to push both the University of the Philippines Lady Maroons and Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws to the limit before succumbing. Like the Lady Eagles, the Lady Stags finished the quarters with a 2-3 record, setting up their clash tomorrow at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
“Ang sama naman po kasi pakinggan na one-woman team ang San Sebastian,” Soltones said.
“Kaya sobrang saya ko po makita na mag-step up ‘yung teammates ko. Kailangan po talaga namin makapag-contribute ang lahat sa amin kung gugustuhin naming mag-champion sa NCAA.”
Although Soltones was glad to see they could keep in step with celebrated UAAP teams, she knows what advancing to the semifinals would do for her team’s confidence.
“Malaking bagay po para sa amin na nakakasabay kami sa mga malalakas na team. Pero, hindi pa naman po tapos ang season namin. May chance pa po kami sa Sabado na makapag-semis kaya paghahandaan talaga naming ‘yun,” she continued.
According to Morente, the Lady Eagles are proud of how far they’ve gotten considering the players who are missing due to injury.
“There wasn’t any pressure on us to win at all. We just told ourselves na to do our best on the court and always prepare really well. Marami pa talaga kaming kailangan ayusin but I’m proud of what we’ve achieved here and I know we still have a lot left in us,” Morente said.
Both teams had the same goal before the season: gain experience and mature as a team before the NCAA/UAAP. Making it to the SVL semifinals could prove invaluable for both teams.
