Now’s perfect time to regroup, says Ateneo’s Madayag

MANILA, Philippines — Ateneo may be Final Four-bound in the 80th UAAP women’s volleyball tournament, but Maddie Madayag feels it’s high time to regroup and make tweaks.

Speaking after getting dealt with a swift loss on Sunday night, the Lady Eagles skipper rued that her team’s form was far from the one she and coach Tai Bundi is seeing from practice.

"I guess kailangan naming mag-regroup,” she said. "Andoon naman 'yung focus talaga.”

The loss to defending champion La Salle that night relegated the Katipunan-based squad into the No. 3 spot. It also stripped them of a twice-to-beat armor in the semifinals for the first time in four years.

"Siguro nagkulang kami sa atake and sa coverage,” Madayag said when asked about what else spelled their doom in that final second round assignment.

"Puso? Not really heart because we want to win naman,” she went on. "But 'yun nga, mindset lang talaga.”

"We just need to play happy. Like what coach Tai said, ang ganda-ganda ng larosa training tapos 'di masaya pagdating sa game. Kailangan lang talaga mag enjoy,” she said.

The middle blocker, who is logging her fourth year with the tournament bridesmaids, hopes the Lady Eagles would be able make the necessary adjustments come semifinals where the Far Eastern University, armed with the Final Four incentive, are waiting for them.

"For the week na libre kami before the semis, mag-focus lang kami sa volleyball,” she assured.

“We've been here (Season) 76 pataas. We're hoping na ganoon din 'yung lalaruin namin. Of course, we're not going to be complacent kasi ang lakas ng FEU ngayon. Pataas sila eh. Panalo-panalo sila,” Madayag offered.

"We're not gonna be complacent but we're gonna be confident despite [this] loss,” she closed.

Ateneo and FEU figure in the first women's side Final Four duel starting on Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.