Amid the challenges that continue to dampen Ateneo de Manila University’s campaign in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Women’s Volleyball Tournament, a silver lining has emerged in rookie middle blocker Dona de Leon.
A prized recruit from Bacolod Tay Tung High School, De Leon — despite the Blue Eagles’ 2-11 win-loss record — has consistently shown her readiness not only to contribute to Ateneo’s rebuild but also to help lead the Sergio Veloso-mentored program back to relevance in UAAP women’s volleyball.
The 19-year-old middle blocker displayed poise beyond her years on Saturday afternoon at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion, steering the Blue Eagles past the winless UE Lady Warriors for their second Season 88 win in 13 outings.
De Leon paced Ateneo with 14 points on 11 attacks, two blocks, and one ace. But she credited teammates Jlo Delos Santos, Zel Tsunashima, and Taks Fujimoto for her breakout performance, saying they have helped shape her into a more mature player as the Blue Eagles look to end a four-season Final Four drought in Season 89.
“Credits din sa mga Ates dahil alam mo naman, yung team namin, medyo rebuilding pa for me kasi hindi kami nag-e-aim ng Final Four or ganon. We’ll definitely make bawi next season, pero para sa akin, happy ako kung ano ang na-contribute ko sa team,” the 19-year-old middle blocker said.
“For me, we’re so very happy kasi nga parang ilang days kami nagfi-film viewing at pinupush kami ni coach Sergio this week para ma-give namin yung best namin. Para sa akin, nagawa ko na yung role ko ‘eh, and ever since nasa first round, ginagawa ko talaga yung best ko,” she added.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Standing at just 5-foot-6, what continues to impress Veloso about De Leon is her athleticism as a smaller middle blocker — a key asset in Ateneo’s rebuilding core alongside fellow young standouts Ana Hermosura, Jihan Chuatico, and KC Cortez.
“She’s so athletic. When you think about the good skills, you need to look at three situations: the physical, how the player is so athletic, like explosive coordination, and sometimes the height,” Veloso said.
“She’s not so tall when you think about middles. In this situation, it’s hard for her to play the block because she’s not so tall. But she’s so explosive, and she can compensate for her size.”
However, for De Leon to enter the conversation among the league’s top middle blockers in the future, Veloso stressed the importance of developing the proper mindset and aggressiveness, following in the footsteps of Ateneo’s decorated middles such as Maddie Madayag, Bea de Leon, and Amy Ahomiro, among others.
“She needs to push herself more in the mental situation, because she needs to play a little more aggressively. She’s so explosive, and she plays more aggressively… She needs to be strong, and there she will start to get more confident. And with more confidence, she plays better. It’s the big, good sequel. I don’t hope, I know she can play much better,” the Brazilian mentor added.
Looking ahead to Ateneo’s final Season 88 assignment against the FEU Lady Tamaraws on Wednesday, April 22, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum, De Leon is already thinking beyond the present.
For her, the focus is on helping Ateneo rise to the level of perennial contenders National University, De La Salle University, and Adamson University in the coming seasons.
“Sinasabi ko sa self na i-give na lang yung best kasi last two games na lang. Yung nasa mindset ko kasi, yung next season na agad [at] kung paano kami magpe-prepare kasi nga as what coach said, puro kami na lang nga,” De Leon expressed.
“Feel ko rin na yung team namin, may malaki akong feeling na makakabawi next year kasi puro nga kaming bata pa, puro sophomores at rookies. ‘Yon lang yung nasa isip ko — babawi at hindi titigil. Doon papasok yung strong mind ni coach.”
