Ateneo de Manila University knows this feeling all too well — too many times for its liking.
In UAAP Season 87, the Blue Eagles’ championship hopes were crushed in the most heartbreaking way: an overtime loss to the Adamson University Lady Falcons in the stepladder semifinals.
That defeat sealed a third consecutive fourth-place finish, and another offseason spent replaying the “what-ifs” and “could-have-beens.”
A year later, UAAP Season 88 offered a chance for redemption. Coach LA Mumar rebuilt his squad around two-time MVP Kacey Dela Rosa, blending experience with rising talents like presumptive Rookie of the Year Erica de Luna, dynamic guard Camille Malagar, and versatile Sarah Makanjoula.
Ateneo’s efforts earned another postseason berth, this time with a more composed and confident style of play.
But fate has a way of repeating itself. As the stepladder quarterfinals approach, the Blue Eagles find themselves back where the heartbreak began — facing the same squad that ended their season last year.
“We’ve been waiting for a year. We’ve been praying for redemption in this tournament, and we didn’t know that the route would be very exact as last year,” Mumar told Tiebreaker Times after Ateneo’s narrow loss to archrival De La Salle University Lady Archers last Wednesday, November 26, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Mumar is clear-eyed about the challenge ahead.
If Ateneo hopes to reach the podium for the first time since Season 78 in 2015 — or even end an 18-year title drought — they must confront the ghosts of last season in the form of the Lady Falcons.
“If we really want to hit our goal, then we must conquer Adamson. We started this season by watching that Adamson game from last year. I think it’s fitting for us that if we want to move forward in facing Adamson, our girls will be up to the challenge,” the 45-year-old mentor said.
The elimination round offered a reminder that the road ahead will not be easy. Ateneo stumbled in its final two games, including another painful loss to Adamson, exposing cracks the Blue Eagles must fix before the postseason.
Still, Mumar sees these setbacks as fuel for their championship drive. He believes Ateneo thrives under pressure and is confident that when the team steps onto the court on Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, the earlier losses will fade into memory.
“I think we thrive in adversity, and I think the girls will be ready by Sunday. We’ll either win, or we’ll learn,” he said.
“Hopefully, na-strike one, strike two kami with the loss to Adamson and La Salle, but the most important thing that I told the girls after this game ay if we come out blazing on Sunday [against Adamson], no one will remember these last two losses. We’re gonna come back and we’re gonna play our best basketball on Sunday.”
