Defending champion Ateneo de Manila University failed to start its UAAP Season 84 campaign on the right foot as they succumbed to archrival De La Salle University in four sets, 25-22, 23-25, 18-25, 20-25, on Thursday evening.
It was deja vu for the Blue Eagles as they were given the same result by the Lady Spikers during Season 82.
But unlike the Blue Eagles team of 2020, head coach Oliver Almadro admitted that he already managed his expectations heading to their season-opener, given that he has a young team filled with new faces. He also pointed out that it is crucial for his players to get more playing experience on the court, especially after a long layoff due to the pandemic.
“First of all, going to this game I’m tempering naman my expectations,” he claimed. “What we need is experience in this first game. We know naman La Salle is intact from the last team and our team having rookies and ‘yun nga ‘di kami kumpleto today. I’m happy with what they did.
“Siguro medyo may konting may kailangan pa kaming i-improve on our part but it’s the start eh. Start palang ‘to, imagine two and a half years wala silang ginawa.”
Unlike Ateneo, La Salle’s roster has a handful of holdovers who already saw action in Season 82 including Jolina Dela Cruz, Thea Gagate, Leila Cruz, and Baby Jyne Soreno. Meanwhile, Ateneo lost the likes of Ponggay Gaston, Kat Tolentino, and Jules Samonte from the Season 82 squad.
Almadro shared that the depth and experience of the Lady Spikers showed in the game which ultimately gave them the upper hand in their matchup.
“But the fact that we fought where we won the first set and the last set konti nalang it could’ve gone either way. Puwede kaming maka-five sets and then if its fifth set either way,” Almadro continued.
“Siguro the experience of the La Salle team paved the way for this game. We know naman sa team na ‘yun medyo may mga experience din and siguro they have a deeper bench than us.”
The multi-titled head coach also credited the Blue Eagles for putting up a fight but asserted that they need to have stronger starts in between sets in order to not be buried in a deep hole moving forward.
“But I’m happy with what my players are doing, especially ‘yung nangyari kanina. Kailangan pa naming mag-improve, specifically on some points lagi kaming slow start eh,” he claimed.
“All of the sets we started slow, first part palang ng set we really have to start strong right away para ‘di kami naghahabol lagi so ‘yun ‘yung kailangan naming i-improve.”
With a young roster at hand, Almadro leaned on veteran libero Dani Ravena who tallied 23 excellent digs and 11 receptions against DLSU. Now playing in her final year, she claimed that they are going to use their opening day loss as a stepping stone towards successfully defending their crown by the end of the season.
“Of course, what Coach O said, everyone’s new here, not just us but also the other teams so mahirap rin to have really, really high expectations. But then again, I know our team really did our best. We fell short but it’s our first game, we’re going to learn from it,” Ravena shared.
“We can’t rush things eh kasi kahit gusto namin manalo but if we do it in a rushed manner, we also wouldn’t get to our goal so kailangan talaga isa isa lang. One game at a time, one point at a time. With our hard work and our perseverance, I know na we would get to our goal.”
As the first-ever Filipina libero to be named team captain, Ravena credited Almadro for molding her to become the player and leader that she is today. She also claimed that she is trying her best to deliver and lead by example, especially towards her younger teammates as they go through their Season 84 campaign.
“I really toughened up talaga with Coach O and his system. We all know naman na ever since the beginning when Coach O started with us, he would tell me na parang I can lead the team kahit ‘di ako senior or kahit ‘di ako matanda sa loob as long as I know what I’m doing, as long as I know na I can help the team in any way, and I can lead the team in any way gagawin ko,” she continued.
“So now in my fifth-year naman I think it’s about time and the trust that he gives me, I really don’t put it to waste. I know na he really asks a lot from me but I just want to deliver each and every day from training until games. So bawi lang kami but we’ll also adjust, kailangan nga this season mabilis mag-adjust kasi tuloy tuloy ‘yung games so learn from this game and bawi again.”
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