After an exhausting two-hour and 53-minute battle against the University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University head coach Sergio Veloso credited the team’s physical trainer for their exceptional conditioning.
The Blue Eagles endured a grueling match before outlasting the Fighting Maroons in a 15-25, 25-23, 27-25, 30-32, 16-14 thriller on Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
With this victory, Ateneo secured its second consecutive win, improving to a 3-5 record, now tied with UP and Adamson University for fifth place.
“Today, congrats to our team because we never gave up. My congrats to coach Miggy Samonte, our physical trainer, because everybody played at a high level, and that’s so important. At the end of the game, they continued strong,” Veloso said.
Team captain Lyann de Guzman echoed her coach’s sentiments, expressing gratitude to the team’s training staff for keeping them in peak condition, especially in long matches.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“Siyempre kami, sobrang thankful kami kay Coach Miggy and kala PT Khen (Masaquel) kasi siyempre pag five sets, mostly physical, mental, and nakita naman namin throughout this season na parang naka-tatlong five sets kami. Pero yung mental and physical conditioning namin sobrang maintain lang, as in hindi bumababa,” said De Guzman.
De Guzman delivered a stellar performance, finishing with 25 points, 17 excellent receptions, and 14 excellent digs, leaving everything on the court in Ateneo’s fourth five-setter of the season. The Blue Eagles have split these extended matches, securing two wins and two losses.
She also defended the team’s physical training staff against criticisms following the injuries that sidelined several key players early in the tournament.
Ateneo has lost JLo Delos Santos, Sobe Buena, and Geezel Tsunashima to season-ending injuries, but De Guzman clarified that their conditioning program was not to blame.
“Sa nangyaring injuries, hindi yun dahil sa pagod kami, sa dami naming ginagawa, hindi yun dahil sa weights namin. Sabi nga namin, sobrang ganda ng program namin, as in lahat kami gusto yung program namin, like sobrang nakakatulong siya sa amin,” she explained.
“Yung nangyari lang talaga, accident lang talaga siya. So hopefully, everyone makita rin yung ibang side kasi mahirap. Siyempre, alam namin yung nangyari sa amin, and yun nga, accident lang talaga, hindi siya dahil sa ginagawa namin.”
#WATCH: Lyann De Guzman says enduring a 2-hour, 53-minute match is a testament to their PT team 🏐
📹 @justinvalencia_ /Tiebreaker Times#UAAPSeason87 pic.twitter.com/bGanMWsYvQ
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) March 22, 2025
