Ateneo Women's Volleyball Match 7 Front and Center

Ateneo vs. University of the Philippines

25-22, 25-20, 24-26, 25-22

by rick olivares

January 16, 2008
Blue Eagle Gym
Ateneo De Manila University

“Moy, block. Block,” yelled Ateneo assistant coach Mic Mic Laborte above the raucous din of the last match of the first round of the UAAP’s Season 70 women’s volleyball tournament.

Crystal Ballentyne acknowledged with a nod. The University of the Philippines’ Danielle Castañeda hammered a spike that the American blocked for a point for the Lady Eagles.

Laborte and Ateneo libero Stephanie Gabriel exchanged high fives. “Moy” was a runaway hit in the center position ably filling in for the injured Bea Pascual. The lanky American out of Faith Academy has been nicknamed such by her teammates for mispronouncing a word while singing “Lupang Hinirang” in school one day. Ballentyne who always has an amiable smile whether she sends a thundering spike (or is it a slam dunk) in for a point or side out smiles at the moniker bestowed upon her. “I’m happy because they accept me as one of team,” she smiles once more.

But for Coach Ronald Dulay, he’s not laughing. He knows that the girls have more to give. He’s disappointed that they failed to sweep UP and the gritty game had to go to a fourth set. Once they play to their potential, they could be a championship-caliber team.

Team manager Tony Liao also thinks along the same lines. He’s sponsored champion teams for his alma mater De La Salle University and now that he’s on the other side of the rivalry, he believes he can turn the league’s former doormat into a winning one. “The past (Ateneo) teams didn’t go out and compete. We want to inculcate a winning attitude here. Sending them for training to Thailand is but one step. It doesn’t turn them into contenders over night, but it’s a first step of a process. Our initial target is to place in the top four. And we’re there. Now we try to solidify that and move forward.”

With Pascual out, Ballentyne was deemed a logical replacement rather than have her bomb from the open area. And with Karla Bello not fully healed from her ankle sprain, Trisha Limgenco has been a revelation. “FEU was her breakout game,” added Laborte. “Now it’s up to her to continue yung maganda niyang showing.”

Last season, UP derailed Ateneo’s campaign with a five-set victory. It’s something the team has not forgotten. As a result, the team practiced their blocking their bane in last year's upset. “Moy is a crucial element to our game plan,” added Dulay. “Kapag hindi niya nagawa yun, malaki ang problema namin.”

And the Ateneo’s two-sport star had 13 huge blocks to complement Charo Soriano’s 22. Ballentyne finished with 13 points while Soriano led the game with 29 big ones, Cara Acevedo chipped in 16, and Patty Taganas added 10.

Bianca Sison made a huge contribution down the stretch in her first bit of action after awhile with a huge point to put Ateneo at match point. Her significant cameo appearance may signify that she’s ready to crack the rotation once more.

“UP always plays us tough,” said Bello during the tense fourth set. “It’s a game of character. This is where we can hopefully move on.”

By all rights (and with all due respect to the UP team that put on a gallant stand), the game should have ended in the third set. Two points away from a sweep and a win, several Ateneo errors gave the Lady Maroons some life and hope. “Alam namin that if we pushed them to a fifth set, anything goes,” said a tired and disappointed France Crescini after the match. “Credit to Ballentyne kasi she gave us problems.”

In response to her breakout game, perhaps it was fitting that Moy scored the match point, a block that fell between the creases of UP’s defense.

As Laborte and the coaching staff exchanged high fives, Ballentyne made her way to them… in smiles.

“I’m just happy to be here,” she beamed.