Lady Eagles to keep busy in 3-week lull before finals

MANILA, Philippines - Well aware of what happened to the unbeaten thrice-to-beat champion last time, early finalist Ateneo Lady Eagles won’t let themselves lose focus and sharpness as they wait nearly three weeks to defend the UAAP Season 77 women’s volleyball crown against a challenger.

The Lady Eagles flew straight to the finals after completing a 14-0 sweep of the elims via a 25-20, 21-25, 25-23, 27-25 win over rivals La Salle Wednesday, leaving the No. 2 Lady Spikers, No. 3 National U and the fourth-ranked team in a stepladder semis stage to determine the other finalist.

“Three weeks din yun, parang off-season talaga but then I think naman na bawat isa sa amin, yung thinking is nasa may dulo na bakit pa kami mag-rerelax o mag-give up? Every team ganito gustong mangyari, bakit pakakawalan pa namin? (It’s a three-week break, just like an off-season. But then for each of us, the thinking is: why waste this opportunity? Why be complacent when we’re close to our goal?)” said AdMU star Alyssa Valdez.

“And I think coach Tai (Bundit) will always remind us that we’re not yet there, we have to push even more kung may ipu-push pa,” she added.

This is the second straight year for a team to bring out the broom. In Season 76, the holders Lady Spikers went spotless in the elims but rammed into the surging Lady Eagles who beat them thrice in the finals to wrest the crown.

“We’ll never know what’s gonna happen in the finals; we’re just hoping for the best but we’re gonna train hard. For sure, coach Tai will make us train even harder,” said Valdez, joking that their main worry will be “how to survive” the pre-finals training.

 “Kung mag-training naman nang maayos, lalabas naman sa game yun (If we train well, it will come in handy during the game).”

Ateneo team manager Tony Boy Liao said to maintain match fitness during the lull in action, they will be arranging tuneup games with club teams.

The possibility of another title confrontation with the Lady Spikers is not lost on the Lady Eagles, too.

“Syempre, La Salle is La Salle talaga, andyan yung experience nila as a champion team. Hindi bumibitaw ang La Salle. But for sure, lalaban, magpe-prepare din ang Nos. 3 at 4.  (Of course, La Salle has the championship experience that makes them a contender and then there’s the Nos. 3 and 4 will also fight for it),” Valdez said.

“As a team, we just have to train hard and prepare for whoever will face us in the finals,” added the pride of Batangas, who also has a strong shot at a second straight Season MVP plum.