Volleyball action will resume once again as UAAP Season 84 is set to commence its Women’s Volleyball tournament starting on May 5 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
It has been two and a half years since the players last saw action in Season 82 back in 2020. Only a total of seven games spanning four playdates have been played before the COVID-19 pandemic forced the league to put the tournament on hold.
UAAP Executive Director Atty. Rebo Saguisag stated that the women’s volleyball tournament will be held under a closed-circuit environment which will follow a home-training-venue arrangement. He disclosed that it is up to the discretion of the different teams if they want to keep their players in bubble set-ups that were implemented during the men’s basketball tournament.
“Home-training-game venue setup for the athletes, as well as officials and everyone involved in the restricted area below,” said Saguisag during the press conference for the women’s volleyball tournament held last Sunday at MOA Arena.
“Initially in basketball, we were very strict. But the latest that we have for basketball, we carried over, but subject to qualifications.”
With the tourney looming right around the corner, players and coaches couldn’t hide their excitement as they are all eager to finally play in front of fans in the arena once again.
“Super excited,” said Ateneo head coach Oliver Almadro whose squad was hailed as the most recent champions back in Season 81. “Thank you to the UAAP and the board that they decided to push through with the UAAP.
“Thankful kami, excited, of course, medyo ninenerbyos kami because two and a half years na walang UAAP but we’ll get through it with the help of everybody.”
FEU head coach George Pascua also bared his optimism about the upcoming season and hopes for a competitive tournament altogether.
“Hopefully, lahat ng players makapag-perform and mga coaches healthy lahat para mas competitive magiging resulta ng tournament natin.”
Amid the pandemic, many familiar names already started pursuing their professional careers after more than two years of not having any competitive volleyball action in the collegiate ranks. Ateneo lost a handful of veterans with the likes of Kat Tolentino, Ponggay Gaston, and Jules Samonte. UST’s EJ Laure and DLSU’s Michelle Cobb also decided to forego their remaining years of eligibility in the UAAP as well.
The absence of tune-up matches and preseason tournaments has also prevented the different teams from scouting their opponents heading to Season 84. Thus, coaches have to make quick adjustments in order to compensate for the limited preparations that they had.
“Pabilisan na lang ng adjustment and consistency ng players. Ang tagal na limited ang practice games and ‘yun pa naman ang kailangan talaga,” claimed Adamson head coach Lerma Giron.
“But this time, very limited.”
New faces will be headlining the different teams this time around but the same intensity and atmosphere of the competition are going to be expected by the coaches, players, and fans for Season 84. National University will have Karl Dimaculangan as head coach while his brother Ronwald will call the shots for University of the East.
“I hope the games will be intriguing as usual,” said UP head coach Godfrey Okumu.
“We are ready to go.”
But just like every season, all teams must go through Ramil de Jesus and De La Salle University.
Similar to the men’s basketball tournament, the women’s volleyball competition will hold quadruple headers for each gameday.
The first set of games will feature UST matching up against FEU at 10:00 AM followed by NU facing off against Adamson at 12:00 NN. The rivalry game between Ateneo and La Salle will tip off at 4:00 PM while UP and UE will round out the opening day proceedings at 6:00 PM.
