MANILA, Philippines - Ateneo coach Roger Gorayeb doesn’t really mind which between National U or Adamson they would be facing in the finals of the Shakey’s V-League Season 10 First Conference.
What he wants is that his Lady Eagles go into the championship ready and in the right frame of mind.
“We all know that both NU and Adamson are strong teams, they wouldn’t make it this far if they’re not,†said Gorayeb moments after the Lady Eagles downed the UST Tigresses, 25-13, 23-25, 25-23, 25-13, Thursday at the MOA Arena in Pasay City to sweep their best-of-three Final Four series.
“We have a 50-50 chance against whichever teams between NU and Adamson would qualify,†he added.
NU and Adamson split their own Final Four duel and will dispute the other championship berth at 4 p.m. tomorrow at The Arena in San Juan, according to the organizing Sports Vision.
He though made special mention of the Lady Bulldogs, who dealt their only loss of the tournament in the quarterfinals of the league sponsored by Shakey’s.
“We lost to NU, which showed how strong the Lady Bulldogs are. Hopefully, with Jang (Bualee) already playing for us, we’ll get to give them a good fight,†he said.
But Gorayeb said he is more than satisfied with the way his team is playing these days, especially with the addition of Bualee, who happens to be his former player at San Sebastian.
Bualee has strengthened Ateneo’s already formidable frontline rotation, unloading 22 hits, mostly coming off on crisp, powerful kills, the last time out as she combined with fellow hitters Rachel Daquis, another guest player, Alyssa Valdez and Fille Cainglet to carry the Lady Eagles to a third straight championship in the season-opening conference of the league backed by Mikasa and Accel.
“Since Jang (Bualee) arrived, we got an extra offensive threat and a blocker. Not only that, she serves as an elder sister to my younger players, which is really what we need in this team,†said Gorayeb.