This year’s SVL Collegiate Conference, we saw a different Ateneo Lady Eagles. With no Alyssa Valdez in the lineup, we saw how the girls from Katipunan missed Valdez’ plays and presence in the court as they lost in their first 2 games in the said tournament. During their first game against the TIP Lady Engineers, we saw how powerful the offense of the Lady Eagles but it’s just their floor defense and errors that gives the TIP an advantage to outlast them in a 5-setter game. In their second game against the San Sebastian Lady Stags, their consistency in scoring was tested as the Lady Stag magnificently overcome the 11 pt lead in the 3rd set to seal their victory over the scrambling Lady Eagles.
Before entering the said tournament, they are fresh from Asean University Games where they won a Bronze medal. But that time, they were with the Phenom, Alyssa Valdez.
WHEN EAGLES CRY
It was strange for the Lady Eagles to see them struggling and missing their seniors in the court. But failures and downfalls are just part of development towards being called as “CHAMPIONS”. Before the Lady Eagles captured their first-ever UAAP Women’s Volleyball crown, they experience to be at the bottom of the standings.
CONSISTENCY AND ERRORS
For me, this is the #1 problem of the Lady Eagles, they lack consistency in their defense and offense. Yes, they have good spikers like Morente, Gequillana, and Samonte but their errors let their opponent to have the advantage instead of them. They have a good setter, but in order for the setter to easily set the ball to the spiker, they must have first a good first ball, which is their problem since Denden Lazaro bid goodbye to the Katipunan squad. And for me I consider their floor defense a reason behind their lost against their arch-rival De La Salle Lady Spikers. Aside from consistency in defense, they must be also consistent with their attacks or offense.
In their game against TIP, Ateneo committed not less than 50 errors. They almost give an easy 2-sets for the Lady Engineers. That costly gave TIP an advantage to outlast the Lady Eagles in the 5th set of the match.
STEP UP LADY EAGLE!
Here are some players who shined in the first 2 games of the Lady Eagles:
PAULINE GASTON
It was a blast for the former Espana-based spiker to lead the Lady Eagles in scoring despite their loss against TIP Lady Engineers. Gaston finished with 17 points in that game, leading the Lady Eagles in the scoring department. She’s just only a sophomore stunner and will be the Future of the Lady Eagles in the next seasons of UAAP.
JULES SAMONTE
From Green to blue, the rookie Jules Samonte debuted as Middle Blocker substituting Bea de Leon who didn’t play in their first game against TIP Lady Engineers. During that game, Samonte wowed lots of fans with her scoring ability and attacks. Correct me if I’m wrong, Samonte finished 7 points in her debut game in SVL, not bad for a rookie like her. But in their game against SSC-R Lady Stags, with her team struggling, she stepped up among her seniors and finished the game with 10 pts. Another future of the Lady Eagles, hoping Coach Tai Bundit will develop this girl because she has lots of potential.
RISE SENIOR LADY EAGLES!
With Maraguinot still not suiting up for the Lady Eagles in their first 2 games in SVL because of injury, other senior Lady Eagles should step up in their games. The young ones instead stepping up for them just like Pauline Gaston and Jules Samonte. I understand the situation of Morente and Gopico. Morente suiting back for the Lady Eagles after skipping the Last 2 seasons of UAAP because of Academic aspects and for Gopico, came back for the Lady Eagles after recovering from an ACL Injury. Morente increased her weight that’s why her plays right now is somehow different on what she showned us during her rookie year in Ateneo. For Gopico, since her high school career, she has been known for her power but for now, she still have the power but she lack quickness.
For me, Coach Tai should replace Gizelle Tan. She can be a good defender but she lack consistency. Coach Tai should train her players in defending well. With Coach Sherwin Meneses, the former mentor of the AdU Lady Falcons, he can get help from him to develop the reception and floor defense of the Lady Eagles.
For the veteran players of Ateneo, Gequillana is showing some improvement. She can already attack from the backrow and her spike were becoming lethal. She can serve well and can be a libero as then. Gequillana, Samonte and Gaston needs support from their team mate. Remember, volleyball is not a one man sport, it’s a team sport.
Spiker's Entity 