After being defeated by the De La Salle University Lady Spikers in the first two sets, 18-25, 26-28, the Ateneo de Manila Lady Eagles soared and won the next three sets, 25-17, 25-16, 11-15, forcing a winner-take-all Game 3 in the UAAP Women’s Volleyball Finals Season 78.
Had the Lady Spikers won Game 2 held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on April 27, they would have grabbed the crown from the squad skippered by Season 78 MVP Alyssa Valdez.
In spite of an impressive start by La Salle, the Lady Eagles stood their ground. Valdez, who scored a season high 34 points, which was one point shy of her career high, was visibly undisturbed as she remained smiling and looking confident throughout the first two sets.
“Laban lang (kami) nang laban,” Valdez said after the well fought game that lasted about two hours. “Wala namang mawawala… Nasa finals na kami. Kailangan naming ibigay ang lahat.”
And indeed, Valdez fought like her life depended on the game.
She spiked more than half of her team’s score in spikes with 32 out of 63, and inspired her younger teammates Bea de Leon and Jhoana Maraguinot to bounce back from a lethargic game one.
Kim Dy and Mika Reyes were still playing splendidly, scoring 16 and 14 points respectively, but the Lady Spikers played relaxed in their floor defense and as a result, they could not make their spikes cleanly against the improved Ateneo net defense.
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Still on a high after their victory, Valdez exuded a playful mood at the post-game press conference. The opening statement of the outgoing team captain and recent college grad to the sports writers was “Mami-miss n’yo raw kami.”
Her happy disposition was not broken even as a reporter’s cellphone (placed on the interview table) rang in the middle of the presscon. Valdez was tempted to answer the call herself because she thought it was urgent. She stopped in mid-sentence and announced the name on the caller ID, “Mommy’s calling.”
Turning serious, Valdez attributed their win to luck and teamwork. She disclosed that one of the things that their coach Anurson “Tai” Bundit taught them was that each set is a new start. “Kahit lamang ang kalaban, every set always starts with zero-zero,” Alyssa underscored.
Valdez declared that more than the physical training, it will be the Lady Eagles’ mental conditioning that will be the deciding factor. “Tingan natin kung paano iko-close ang chapter na ito,” she said. “Let’s all be present on Saturday,” Valdez urged.
Game 3 will be held on Saturday afternoon, April 30, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
-with reports from Merck Maguddayao. Photos by Kenneth Panlilio
