BY ABBY TORALBA
AFTER a third-place finish last season, which for some of its supporters was a tad below expectations, Ateneo is out to regain lost glory in the 85th UAAP women’s volleyball tournament kicking off on Feb. 25.
The Blue Eagles, according to coach Oliver Almadro, are working hard for the highly anticipated volley wars.
“We’re doing good. We’re training daily so mas grind iyon. Alam naman natin na buong taon pinaghahandaan iyon so healthy naman iyong team. I’m thanking the Lord that they’re healthy and hoping na maging maganda iyong performance namin this year,” Almadro told Malaya-Business Insight.
“Siyempre, alam naman natin na may mga nawala sa amin but we just have to find a way kung anong mayroon kami and I’m happy na nag-de-deliver naman iyong mga newcomers namin,” he added.
Just like the other teams bolstering their rosters during the off-season, the Katipunan-based crew also toughened up via training camps in Baguio and Bacolod.
Almadro said Ateneo, which is expected to be led by Faith Nisperos, Vanie Gandler, and Roma Doromal, looks to achieve its goals one step at a time and hopefully surpass its bronze medal finish last year.
“Ang edge ko lang siguro is, my players really wanted to bounce back from last year. But last year was not a loss. They counted as out then we made it to the podium,” Almadro, also the tactician of Petro Gazz Angels in the PVL, said.
“Hopefully, ma-maintain namin na makapasok muna (sa Final Four), iyon muna, short goal muna to be in the Final Four and then after that– praying to the Lord na magkaroon kami ng chance na maka-abot ng finals through semifinals muna.”
