Lady Eagles eye short route vs spikers: Reversal of roles

MANILA, Philippines - It has all the trimmings of an epic encounter. They have switched roles since their clash in the UAAP women’s finals last year. Holder Ateneo enjoys the thrice-to-beat advantage this time and underdog challenger La Salle is now out to overcome the odds and steal the Season 77 crown.

The archrivals go at it again beginning today at 3:30 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum with the Lady Eagles seeking a different ending from the 2014 hostilities, where they overcame La Salle’s thrice-to-beat advantage, and the Lady Spikers out to give the Ateneans a dose of their own medicine.

The well-rested Lady Eagles have gained an added advantage as the Lady Spikers have lost skipper and ace scorer Ara Galang to a season-ending injury. Galang suffered tears on her ACL, MCL, medial meniscus and bruised her big bone and will be out for six to eight months.

“Basta naman Ateneo-La Salle, walang advantage or underdog (Advantages and being the underdog don’t mean a lot in an Ateneo-La Salle game), everyone plays with all heart,” Ateneo team manager Tony Boy Liao said yesterday when he graced the PSA Forum along with coach Anusorn “Tai” Bundit and DLSU Office of Sports Development executive director Nong Calanog.

“We’re definitely the underdogs and that was proven when Ateneo swept the elims and got thrice-to-beat advantage. Last year, we’re in the situation of Ateneo but now we’re on the other side. We’re feeling the pressure of trying to beat the top team thrice,” said Calanog, representing the DLSU squad.

Liao did admit that Galang’s absence will mean at least 20 points to fill for DLSU but maintained this could work to La Salle’s favor too.

“It could be a double-bladed thing. Pwedeng biglang maiba ang laro ng La Salle dahil wala si Ara Galang (It could lead to La Salle playing differently sans Galang). Imbes na (Instead of) playing against Ara, you’re playing against a six-man team na lahat gumagalaw na (playing fluidly),” said Liao.

“We’ll find out tomorrow (today) really ano psychology na mangyayari sa La Salle, kung tanggap nila na wala si Ara, o kaya nila na wala si Ara (how this will affect La Salle psychologically). As for Ateneo, we’ll play the usual game we play – with or without Ara Galang,” he added.

Calanog expressed confidence the Lady Spikers will enter the series even more motivated.

“Adversity brings out the best in players and I think our players will take the thrice-to-beat disadvantage and the loss of our captain as rallying point,” he said, expressing confidence in DLSU coach Ramil de Jesus’ ability to map up a strategy that will offset Galang’s absence.

He did not discount the possibility of Galang showing up at the venue to rally her team. “If she’s not able to play, her presence will be a strong rallying point for the team; her being there will help greatly in motivating the girls in the game tomorrow (today),” said Calanog. 

Ateneo needs to win just twice to retain the crown while La Salle has to score three victories to dethrone their rivals.

“It has been proven even if you feel the thrice to beat is too great to overcome, it’s still possible. We were beaten thrice in volleyball last year and also lost in table tennis despite thrice to beat advantage,” Calanog said.

Liao said he wants his team to finish off DLSU in two so as to end the season with an unprecedented 16-0 card overall.

“We only need two (wins) but it’s a hard two. Kahit sabihin mo 14-0 kami, iba na pag finals; lahat ng stats itabi mo na (We’re 14-0 in the elims but the finals is different altogether). Like coach Tai said, if players will believe, we can win. So it’s now up to the players. Mas gusto ko (I prefer) 2-0 para 16-0 sweep. I don’t know kung may nakagawa na nito sa volleyball (if that’s been done before). So we’re going to the record. If it’s possible, thank you, if not, it’s okay,” he said.

Ateneo is playing its first game in 21 days and during the lull, Bundit said they continued their twice-a-day training sessions and played tuneup matches with clubs like Army and Petron.