Ateneo Women's Volleyball Match #2 A Set Back for Two Steps Forward

Ateneo vs. UST
26-24, 12-25, 21-25, 13-25
by rick olivares

Match #2
December 12, 2007
Blue Eagle Gym

Venus Bernal’s jaw dropped. Over at the western side of the Blue Eagle Gym, the Ateneo Lady Spikers rallied back to take an exciting and thrilling first set 26-24 from the defending UAAP women’s volleyball champion UST. Bernal’s frontline teammate Mary Jean Balse pulled her close along with the other Lady Tigresses on the court and hissed, “Bawi tayo.”

After the three-minute break between sets, Bernal and her teammates trooped back to the floor with their game faces on. Last season, these two teams played some pretty close games. In the recently concluded second conference of the V-League, Ateneo nearly upended the gold and white en route to the championship series. “Kahit wala yung Thai import ng Ateneo (Lithawat Kesinee),” said Balse, “Alam namin na malakas na team pa rin ang Ateneo. Nandyan pa yung tatlo nila (Charo Soriano, Patty Taganas, and Karla Bello) so kailangan talaga dalhin mo yung A-game mo.”

From there, UST went out and seized control with a dominating and almost clinical display of volleyball as they blitzed Ateneo with a 25-12, 25-21, and 25-13 four-setter.

“Kung makikipagsabayan kami sa frontline ng Ateneo,” explained UST coach Augusto Santamaria of his team’s strategy after the game, “eh, hindi smart volleyball yan. So pinapalo namin sa likod kung saan mahina yung depensa nila.”

Balse started the second set by sending her powerful serves to Ateneo’s backline. With Ateneo unable to properly receive the ball more so set it for an attack, they would send the freeball back to UST where their frosh setter Rhea Dimaculangan would set up Balse, Bernal, or Angeli Tabaquero in the middle for a powerful spike. Ateneo coach Ronald Dulay was conscious of UST’s checkouts that he sent Soriano to help out his beleaguered backline.

After UST leveled the match at a set apiece, Dulay stressed how important it was to come out strong in the pivotal third set. “Sinabi ko sa mga bata na masama yung second set,” explained the Ateneo coach. “Ipakita natin sa UST na hindi tayo intimidated. At importante na maganda yung depensa sa net.”

With Soriano somewhat checked by UST’s defense (she finished with 18 points), Ateneo found some precious points from Patty Taganas, Bea Pascual, Cara Acevedo, and Crystal Ballentyne. But UST rallied from an early 12-8 deficit to take the crucial third set.

The Ateneans tried to mount a rally in the fourth but found themselves in a deep hole early on. With the game seemingly out of reach, Dulay pulled out Soriano and put in Averil Paje and Asia Urquico who gave a good account of themselves.

Inside the Ateneo dugout, the team was at first quiet. Misha Quimpo was forlorn for her inability to help the team from the libero position. The coaching staff quickly pulled her close and encouraged her to keep on plugging in. Then Soriano spoke up for all to hear, “O bawi tayo sa Sunday (against La Salle). Bawi tayo.”

The team huddled for a quick prayer and a cheer.