Thoughts on Ateneo Women's Volleyball & the Suzuki U23 Cup Finals

Ateneo Women’s Volleyball

During Charo Soriano’s last playing year for Ateneo, I wondered how far they won go given the lineup wasn’t deep and they had lost Bea Pascual to injury. They won enough to get to the UAAP Final Four but they were eliminated in one match by Adamson.

The following season, Gretchen Ho, Jem Ferrer, Fille Cainglet, and Dzi Gervacio entered and there was a sense that the pieces were falling into place despite the lack of ceiling at the net. During their second year, they were losing in five sets. Whether it was experience, mental fortitude, or maybe that one more player who can elevate them, I wasn’t sure. Maybe it was all three.

Even as players graduated, new and talented players have come in and now I can’t help but feel giddy that they can now compete with the traditional powers like UST, FEU, La Salle, and Adamson. It proves that there is life after. What I mean is, I thought that when Charo's batch graduated, I figured that there went some talented volleybelles. Can they be replaced? Of course, new ones will arise. 

Now they’ve taken a massive jump by winning a V-League title. That should do wonders for their confidence when they head into the UAAP season.

All I know is now that Alyssa Valdez is now playing it’s going to be an exciting season. I missed the past season and this one I can't wait to watch.

The PFF Suzuki Under-23 Cup Finals

When you listen to the Ilonggos and Negrenses talk, there’s mutual respect. Filipinos are generally polite and hospitable and trash talking really isn’t in our nature.

Even as the coaches from Iloilo and Bacolod exchanged platitudes, I asked them how they did against one another during their time as players.

Norman Fegidero Jr. said that during his time, they won most of the games. But he also acknowledged that many of the best players from Iloilo were plying their trade in the collegiate leagues in Metro Manila. “If they were able to keep that core magandang laban yan,” he said.

Assistant Iloilo coach Richard Bedia on the other hand said that during his team, the won most of the battles.

Emphasis on battles.

It’s not just the skill on display but also an intensity. If they first encounter during the Visayas Regionals was any indication, the finals series will be a rough, intense, and filled with cards.