With their final whistle blown and chants of “one more year” ringing through the SMART Araneta Coliseum, Ateneo seniors Lyann De Guzman and AC Miner find themselves standing at a pivotal crossroads — will they chase unfinished business with the Blue Eagles for one last run, or take the leap into the professional ranks?
Following their four-set win over the UE Lady Warriors, the two veterans admitted that the idea of returning for Season 88 is tempting, especially given how this year unfolded.
“To be honest, yes,” said De Guzman. “Sobrang na-feel ko itong season na ‘to na kaya naming umabot ng Final Four. Sobrang go talaga kami. Parang si Ate Roms (Roma Mae Doromal) lang yung nawala tapos nandiyan pa si Fiona (Arroyo) na dumagdag. Di kami rebuilding team na kailangan mag-adjust pero, yun nga, sa nangyari, napaisip.”
“Iisipin mo yung future at hindi sa harap natin,” added Miner.
“Season pa rin kaya kailangan pa rin mag-focus sa team, so I guess hindi pwede maging selfish at isipin kung ano na agad yung nasa future namin. Naisip namin, pero yun nga sa nangyari, what if isa pa?”
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Ateneo finished the season with a 5-9 record, falling short of a Final Four berth. Their campaign was derailed by the untimely injuries to three key players — JLo Delos Santos, Geezel Tsunashima, and Sobe Buena — who were sidelined at various points in the season.
Delos Santos tore her left ACL during the team’s final practice before the Season 87 opener. Later in the season, Tsunashima and Buena also suffered injuries that prematurely ended their campaigns.
Despite the setbacks, the Blue Eagles fought with everything they had, determined to honor their fallen teammates.
“At first, yung una mahirap tanggapin,” said Miner. “Yung pangalawa, mahirap tanggapin. Yung pangatlo, mahirap tanggapin. Pero siyempre, hindi namin hahayaan na iisipin lang namin yung nangyari na yun this season.
“Siyempre, lalaban kami para mabigyan namin yung best na results for them kasi part pa rin sila ng team. So kung ano maging results na gagawin, yun din yung results ng season nila.”
“For me, siguro lang talaga, tinanggap lang yung pangyayari,” added De Guzman. “Siyempre hindi natin yung gusto pero nangyari talaga. But sabi nga namin, kung ano meron tayo, maghatakan tayo sa isa’t isa kasi dun lang tayo huhugot ng lakas.
“Siyempre, nandiyan din naman sila JLo, Geezel at Sobe to support us. Sabi nga nila, laban lang kami kasi sila gusto din nila lumaban.”
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Leaving the UAAP early — especially with eligibility remaining — is never an easy or simple decision. For De Guzman and Miner, the temptation to return for one last dance as Blue Eagles is strong. They want not only to chase unfinished business but also to help steer Ateneo back into Final Four contention.
For now, both are taking time to reflect before making their final decisions.
“Sabi ko nga sa presscon, actually ako, nung dami na nangyari, sayang talaga kasi sobrang laking opportunity nitong season for us,” said De Guzman. “But bina-balance out ko rin at kailangan ko rin mag-isip kung ano ba talaga ang right path for me. Nagde-decide ako ngayon kung ano yung para sa future.”
“Tulad ng sinasabi ni Lyann, kailangan mag-decide,” echoed Miner. “Ang daming what-ifs this season: what if nakalaro si ganito, ganyan; what if this never happened. For sure, hindi naman namin inabot yung goal namin pero very proud pa rin kami sa team. Siguro in line na lang kami sa academics kasi matatapos na kami this year.
“The decision for one more year is 50-50.”
#WATCH: Injuries may have shaken Ateneo’s #UAAPSeason87, but Lyann de Guzman and AC Miner are keeping the door open for one more run with the Blue Eagles 🏐
📹 @justinvalencia_ /Tiebreaker Times pic.twitter.com/FiGHBf9coh
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) April 26, 2025
