Lady Eagles, Lady Spikers begin grudge fight UAAP Wars: Episode V

Games today (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

12 noon – AdMU vs NU (men’s finals)

4 p.m. – AdMU vs DLSU (women’s finals)

MANILA, Philippines - It has all the frills, thrills and chills expected of a showdown of this magnitude. And it’s easy to be carried away with all the trimmings of a championship for the UAAP women’s volleyball crown between bitter rivals – Ateneo and La Salle – seeking an end to a five-year rivalry that before gametime stood in the balance at 2-2.

It’s a virtual galactic showdown among the best and the finest in the varsity league, who first figured in this clash for excellence as brave rookies brimming with talent and reached this stage as seasoned veterans at the close of their respective careers.

A rivalry like no other, a title duel that had lured thousands of fans in the past, drawing record crowds for an indoor game other than the league’s bread-and-butter sport of basketball.

It is one title series that truly polarized the throng of fans, clad only in green and blue. And yet, there’s no better way to describe this impending war of attrition than to steal some thoughts from the very heart and soul of the reigning back-to-back champion Lady Eagles.

“Parang five-setter, a five-setter game which is tied at 2-2. Oh my God, what a way to end it,” said Ateneo ace Alyssa Valdez, alluding to the gut-wretching competition they expect from each other.

Game One of the best-of-three series fires off at 4 p.m. today before an expected full house at the Smart Araneta Coliseum with the Lady Eagles coming into the keenly awaited match well-rested and all primed up and the Lady Spikers sort of ruing lack of preparation following their grueling Final Four series with the Far Eastern U Lady Tams that went the distance.

“We are all ready,” declared the Lady Eagles’ Thai coach Anusorn “Tai” Bundit.

DLSU mentor Ramil de Jesus, who steered the Taft-based spikers to their eighth straight finals stint, said they are the underdogs in this latest match-up especially with a tight schedule capped by a Final Four rubber match against FEU.

“Isa sa pinakamahirap na part yung pumasok ka sa finals na galing sa do-or-die. Unlike sa kalaban, one week nakapag-prepare sa game namin (It’s hard to enter the finals coming off a do-or-die. It gave us just a few days to prepare unlike our opponent who had one week),” said De Jesus.

Bundit tried to give DLSU the upperhand. “La Salle is a better team. I’m thinking La Salle wants to win. But Ateneo doesn’t just want to win, Ateneo believes it will win.”

The showdown for Season 78 honors serves as a grudge match for seniors Valdez and La Salle’s Ara Galang and Mika Reyes. The Lady Spikers won Seasons 74 and 75 to cap their three-peat feat then the Lady Eagles nosed them out of the top in Seasons 76 and 77.

“It’s our fifth finals against Ateneo since my rookie year, bale 2-2 na kami, two years sa amin, two years sa kanila, so kailangan yan rin ang isang paghugutan namin, kailangan gawin namin ang lahat para makuha ito (We’re 2-2 the last four years so this should serve as a motivation for us to win this fifth encounter),” said Galang.

Valdez expects enough support from Jho Maraguinot, the one considered to assume the role next year, as well as middle Bea de Leon, Amy Ahomiro, utility Kim Gequillana, setter Jia Morado and libero Gizelle Tan.

Galang and Reyes can bank on veteran setter Kim Fajardo, hitter Kim Dy, libero Dawn Macandili, outside hitter Cyd Demecillo, middle Majoy Baron for able backup.

“Siguro ngayon, mas team kami, may mapagkakatiwalaan ang bawat isa at may bench players pa kami na maasahan (We’re more potent as a team, we trust one another and we have bench players who can be depended upon),” said Galang.

Unlike the past two years, no one totes a clean slate and enjoys a thrice-to-beat advantage in the finals. In Season 76, DLSU swept the elims but Ateneo beat it thrice in four games in the finale to cop their maiden crown. Last year, it’s AdMU’s turn to sweep the elims and went on to win the first two games of the finals to go back-to-back.

“Tingin ko magiging pukpukan ang labanan. Aabot sa Game Three yan. Walang susuko dyan  (I feel it will be a close fight that will take a Game Three to decide),” observed University of Santo Tomas coach Kungfu Reyes.

Reyes gives DLSU the edge, believing it is hungrier than ever after losing to Ateneo the past two years. “Knowing La Salle, parang leon yan na tumatapang kapag nasusugatan (they’re like a wounded lion).

On the other hand, Reyes said Ateneo is also driven. “Nangako si Alyssa na bibigyan niya ng tatlong titles ang Ateneo para mapantayan yung ginawa niya nung high school. Eto na yun (Valdez promised to give Ateneo three crowns to match her feat in high school at UST. This is her chance).”  

Meanwhile, Ateneo’s male counterparts, the Blue Eagles, also kick off their title-retention campaign at 12 noon against National U.