The First Test
Ateneo vs. UP
25-20, 25-16, 25-20
by rick olivares
Almost as soon as Fille Cainglet, Jem Ferrer, Angeline Gervacio, and Gretchen Ho donned the blue and white last season, they were dubbed the Fab Four. They were the women’s volleyball equivalent of the men’s basketball team’s Ryan Buenafe, Vince Burke, Justin Chua, and Nico Salva.
Tasked to carry a heavy load in only their freshman year, it was both a good and bad situation. It was good since they would get a lot of playing time; it was bad because it’s rare that newbies can tow their teams to the Promised Land.
The Ateneo Women’s Volleyball Team lost a bunch of five-setters where it was clear that maturity and experience were the culprits.
A year older, a year wiser, and three tournaments (including two V-League Conferences) where they came up short, the Lady Spikers still aren’t favorites to win the Ateneo’s first women’s volleyball title, but they, as he saying goes, are ready to give it that old college try. Season 72 couldn’t come quite soon enough and now, it was opening day.
In their new one-piece uniforms that had the entire San Juan Arena looking, the team took to the floor against the UP Lady Maroons. There were a few issues surrounding the new outfit that some players and their parents’ thought were too racy for college standards. The truth is, it isn’t. It’s classy, cool, and yes, sexy. But by no means is it vulgar.
Last Thursday, December 3, the team had an opportunity to break it in during an exhibition match versus the perennial San Sebastian Lady Stags that is also coached by Ateneo’s Roger Gorayeb. The Ateneo swept the visitors in three sets and the first reviews were in – yes, the girls can play, and yes, the uniforms are a winner.
The UP Lady Maroons are a young team as well. Coached by former Ateneo mentor Ronald Dulay, the Diliman squad is still trying to work on their defense. They have some good players and they do have the height. It’s just a matter of meshing the two.
The three sets were all played similarly – close in the early goings then Ateneo will pull away and UP will make on run in the middle of the set before the blue and white regained their composure for a kill and a finish.
They had beaten the Lady Maroons in three sets in a previous tournament but that didn’t guarantee much come the UAAP. Gervacio led the team with 23 points and was adjudged the Best Player of the Game by the broadcast panel. She scored from the wings and from some great blocking displaying a maturing all-around game. Cainglet, who had a superb V-League, added 12 points of her own. The rookies – Mona Bagatsing and Tasha Faustino -- gave a good account of themselves as they played long minutes giving the starters plenty of rest.
Steph Gabriel, in her final playing year and the V-League 2nd Conference’s Best Digger, gave another good account of herself as she had 16 successful digs out of 28 attempts. She also solid on the receiving end, an important factor that Gorayeb likes to point out: “Volleyball is serve and receive. You do well in both and malaki yung chance sa puntos at panalo.”
But the team will have to take better care in their overall game as they gave up 23 points on errors that included several on momentary lapses in concentration and communication on the court; something that riles the coaching staff. “As good as the win is, we have to get better at a lot of things because you cannot play that way against the better teams,” noted Volleyball Program head Sherwin Malonzo. “But this is still a very good start. The girls know what they need to do.”
If the team holds up well against the field especially in the first round of play, they could make the Final Four. But lurking in the wings are defending champions De La Salle and perennial powers University of Santo Tomas (the fave to snatch back the title this year), Far Eastern University, and Adamson University.
Gorayeb noted that the Lady Archers’ coaching staff was taking notes and videotaping Ateneo’s game.
“Nakapasa kami sa first test (UP),” said the man with a plan. “Ngayon, maghahanda kami para sa malakas na kalaban.”
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