Ateneo de Manila University’s gallant stand against the University of Santo Tomas sparked something within the Blue Eagles.
Many saw Ateneo as one of the lowly teams entering the UAAP Season 86 Women’s Volleyball Tournament after their core moved on to the professional ranks.
Moreover, they would be adjusting to new head coach Sergio Veloso.
However, Ateneo entering the Final Four has just become a big possibility.
The Blue Eagles almost stunned the then-unbeaten Golden Tigresses last Wednesday (March 20) in five grueling sets, 15-25, 25-27, 25-23, 28-26, 13-15.
They then used that as springboard to dominate University of the Philippines on Sunday, 25-14, 25-20, 25-15 in just one hour and 24 minutes.
“I’m very happy sa performance ng team. And hopefully sa susunod na games namin, mas maging aggressive pa kami and i-embrace pa namin yung system ni Coach Sergio, and hopefully makuha talaga namin yung Final Four,” said Blue Eagles captain Roma Mae Doromal after the statement win against the Fighting Maroons.
It was quite a four-game stretch for Ateneo starting with a character-building win against Adamson University in four sets. They then took a set in a loss to Far Eastern University, before following with the matches against UST and UP.
Everything that happened in 11 days, according to the defensive specialist, helped them discover their identity.
“Nakita naman namin after the UST game yung level nga namin, which naka-help talaga sa amin coming into this game,” said the graduating Doromal.
“I feel like now mas inembrace namin yung kanya-kanyang role. And at the same time, nakita namin now na ito talaga yung Ateneo. Ito talaga kami maglaro.
“Ito na yung nakikita namin sa training na hirap na hirap kami i-apply siya sa game. Pero ito na, ito na yung Ateneo,” continued the 23-year-old libero.
The Blue Eagles, who now hold a 3-6 record, are just trailing the fourth-running Far Eastern University by one-and-a-half games.
This made their upcoming game after the Holy Week break more exciting due to the implications it could bring when they clash on April 4 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The team is also expecting more boost as the Ateneo community came alive after that UST game, showing out against UP.
“Very thankful kami sa lahat ng sumusuporta, especially the Ateneo community. Sobrang naa-appreciate namin yung support nila, especially yung naghahanap pa sila ng mga donors for like clappers, ganon,” said Doromal.
“Sobrang naa-appreciate namin yun and mas nai-inspire pa kami to play and represent Ateneo.”
