Will UAAP Season 87 be the time for this Ateneo Blue Eagles core to break their Final Four drought?
The post-pandemic era of the UAAP has been far from kind to the storied Ateneo Blue Eagles volleyball program, who have missed the Final Four bus in back-to-back seasons following the pandemic-stricken Season 84.
Now in their second season under Brazilian coach Sergio Veloso, the Eagles will turn to a simple motto in putting up one big fight for the UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Tournament.
“We just need to play our 110 percent every game, ‘Yun nga, we just need na mapakita kung ano ‘yung tinetraining namin sa game, and of course ‘di naman sya sobrang…like next season ulit na rebuilding team,” fourth-year spiker Lyann De Guzman said during the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Volleyball press conference on Thursday.
“Two years na kami kay Coach Sergio, kaya mas madali na ‘yung grasp namin sa sistema and mas napapabilis ‘yung process sa rookies namin na umangat sila sa level na gusto namin.”
Senior setter Taks Fujimoto added, “So [for] this season inimprove talaga namin ‘yung things na may weaknesses kami especially mga aspects na last year…since parang defensive team kami talaga. This time we really focused on our offense.”
Ateneo will be parading an intact core for Season 87, which also includes AC Miner, Geezel Tsunashina, and Sobe Buena among others. More than a sound core, De Guzman and Fujimoto are excited for the addition of Jihan Chautico, Robielle Silla, and Alex Montoro into the Eagles’ nest.
There’s also Fiona Arroyo, who is expected to take on libero duties following the graduation of captain Roma Mae Doromal according to Fujimoto.
“She’s really helpful knowing she’s still a rookie, but she plays like a veteran na rin. And we’re so glad din kasi with her experience and knowledge inside the court, it can help the team since parang ‘di rin namin nafeel ‘yung nawala si Ate Roms, parang [Arroyo] filled the position very well din,” the senior playmaker said of Arroyo.
But even with a promising core, De Guzman and Fujimoto refuse to dwell on a possible Final Four berth for the Katipunan-based squad. Constant improvement is still the key for the young team, which will strengthen their playoff hopes for Season 87.
“‘Yun nga, parang mindset namin sa team is one game at a time lang, kasi aabot naman tayo doon [sa Final Four] as long as we do our best every game,” De Guzman said.
“We have our goals especially this season, but I think this season it’s much more of [having] a stronger mind for each of us, like especially the crucial moments and pressure. So I’m really hopeful na this team will finish in the Final Four and hopefully, the championship,” Fujimoto added.
With UAAP Season 87 on the horizon, De Guzman and Fujimoto reverted back to their earlier point, and that’s the Blue Eagles playing at 110 percent for each game.
“I can say na mabibigay namin ‘yung 110 percent namin every game,” De Guzman said. “This season, ‘yung team na ‘to is a very strong team talaga, na we know we don’t have a star player, but when we play, sobrang intact.”
Banner images courtesy of the UAAP Media Bureau.