La Salle, Ateneo clash for UAAP Women’s Volley crown: Toss-up for destiny, history

MANILA, Philippines - This is one title showdown that could fit all the often-used sporting phrases – do-or-die, sudden death, moment of truth, make-or-break, for all the marbles, no-tomorrow. For it is all of these and more.

Still, the looming epic encounter is simply a shot at destiny, history.

Archrivals La Salle and Ateneo face off one last time starting at 4 p.m. today for the UAAP women’s volleyball crown before an expected record crowd at the Mall of Asia Arena.

 The Lady Spikers, forced to this final match of the league they have dominated with a sweep of the double-round elims, need a victory that would extend their impeccable reign to a rare four-peat and eighth overall.

A win by the Lady Eagles, however, would validate a claim that they were destined to win it all, from a gutsy stand against the Adamson Lady Falcons to a gut-wrenching two victories over the talented National U Lady Bulldogs to force the title series against the defending champs before huge numbers of fans, the biggest crowds outside the league’s bread-and-butter sport of basketball.

La Salle, the top-seeded team that once appeared to be invincible, is hard-pressed to survive the challenge of Ateneo, an overachieving bunch which has proven its ability to buck even the toughest of odds.

For the Lady Spikers, a triumph will complete a fourth straigth championship, a feat last pulled off by Far Eastern U in the 1970s.

For the Lady Eagles, a victory will net them a milestone women’s volleyball crown, at the same time giving fancied La Salle the ignominy of  blowing it all despite an overwhelming thrice-to-beat advantage. DLSU’s counterparts in women’s table tennis actually swept the elims too but failed to capture the Season 76 crown after losing three straight to University of the Philippines.

The thrice-to-beat works like a virtual best-of-five, with the unbeaten No. 1 carrying a one-game advantage and needing to win twice to secure the plum.

So when Ateneo shocked La Salle last March 5 (17-25, 25-23, 25-13, 25-20), the Lady Eagles essentially levelled the series. DLSU countered with a 25-14, 25-20, 19-25, 26-24 victory last March 5 to get on the hill, but AdMU spoiled the premature celebrations of rivals last Wednesday and eked out a thrilling 25-21, 25-23, 18-25, 16-25, 17-15 win to force today’s sudden death.

“I think we need to think of more elements on how to win this time. Babawi kami (We’ll bounce back),” La Salle captain Abi Maraño told ABS-CBN News’ website.

Maraño, the team’s leader who’s looking to end her UAAP career with a flourish, scored just eight points in the heartbreaking setback.

“Puso pa, kasi hindi naman lahat pabor sa amin. Kailangan namin trabahuhin kung ano lang ang kaya naming gawin, at manalo kami on Saturday (We have to show more fighting heart. We need to work harder to win on Saturday),” said the former MVP.

Ara Galang, who waxed hot with 28 points last time, stressed what’s needed to be done: “I-improve lang ‘yung character ng bawat isa, improve namin ‘yung tiwala at self-confidence (we have to show character and improve on our faith and self-confidence).”

Such intangibles come aplenty for Ateneo, which has surprisingly extricated itself from win-or-go-home situations in the playoffs.

“Lagi naman kami do-or-die eh. Sabi nga ni coach, we need to believe. Sa sarili rin naman namin nag-start yan. If you don’t believe sa sarili mo, hindi mo rin maa-apply sa laro yung training mo. Kung walang confidence, parang magda-doubt ka sa sarili mo so lagi kang mag-e-error, mag-o-overthink ka at mawawala ka sa focus (We’re getting used to do or die situations. Our coach tells us to believe in ourselves and have confidence. Otherwise, you might doubt your ability during the game and just commit errors and lose focus),” said AdMU skipper Alyssa Valdez.

The Lady Eagles intend to parlay their “heart-strong” mantra anew, hoping things play out and give their underdog saga a golden ending.

“Going to Game 4, ganun pa rin kami (It’s still the same Ateneo that will enter Game 4). As I’ve always been telling the players, we’ve made it to the finals; we’re winners already kahit matalo pa kami sa series na ito (even if we end up losing the series),” said AdMU manager Tony Boy Liao.

“Nobody expected us to be in the finals. Pero ngayon na natalo na namin ang La Salle, dalawang beses pa, mas kumpyansa siguro ang mga bata, lalo silang maniniwala na kaya nilang talunin ang La Salle (But having beaten La Salle twice in the series will certainly boost the girls’ confidence; they will now have more faith in their capability to beat La Salle),” he added.