MONTALBAN — Seven months ago, in what would turn out to be their final UAAP game for Ateneo, Lyann de Guzman and AC Miner were still torn between returning for another year with the Blue Eagles or turning pro in the PVL.
Neither could commit to a decision when asked by SPIN.ph last April.
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“Napapaisip ulit ako kasi sobrang sayang ng season na ‘to. Feel ko talaga na dapat sa’min talaga. Kaya sana namin makaabot ng Final Four. Pero let’s see. Hindi pa rin ako fully nakakapag-decide,” de Guzman said then.
“Nasa amin naman ‘yung fighting spirit para lumaban sa pro, pero siguro ‘pag skills, siyempre mas marami pa kaming kailangang i-improve,” Miner added, admitting she wasn’t fully ready to make the jump.
Fast forward to the end of the year, the fourth- and fifth-overall picks finally crossed paths as pros for the first time — a duel won by Miner as ZUS Coffee swept Nxled, 25-13, 25-21, 25-21, in the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference.
For the 22-year-old middle blocker, everything about the move, from the timing, the transition and the growth, now feels right.
Her challenging years with a rebuilding Ateneo, she said, molded her to finally be pro-ready at the time when she decided to enter the 2025 PVL Draft.
“In my decision to turn pro, nakikita ko na ngayon na it was a good decision. Not that iniwan ko Ateneo or what, but I think it's a good decision,” Miner told SPIN.ph.
“Very rewarding din kasi ‘yung years na binuhos ko sa Ateneo, ‘yung mga sacrifices ko for myself, nakikita ko na siya ngayon sa pro. Mas high level na as a rookie kahit na wala rin naman ako masyadong expectations for myself.”
That turbulent UAAP year initially nudged de Guzman toward staying one more season, but in hindsight, she says it was the right time for both of them to close that chapter.
Their final run together hardened them mentally, a foundation that now serves them well in the PVL.
“Sobrang iba talaga ‘yung last season namin ni AC. Ang daming nangyari. ‘Yung time din na ‘yun ‘yung nagpatatag sa’min ni AC na wala kaming palitan during games talaga. Na-realize namin kung hanggang saan ‘yung kaya naming ibigay sa team," de Guzman said.
“Natuto rin kami sa time na ‘yun na mag-cope sa challenge dahil nga kulang kami sa tao nu’n at sobrang sakto lang talaga.”
It's been a long time coming
From their humble beginnings in FEU-Diliman seven years ago, to their trying years in Ateneo, and now onto separate paths in the PVL, both couldn’t be prouder of each other’s growth.
“Lyann’s doing really good. I think she's really living up to her name na fourth pick of the draft and mas malaki pa ‘yung marating niya with the team and herself din,” Miner said.
“Sobrang kakaiba lang na nandu’n na siya sa kabilang side ng court, na kalaban ko na siya sa games, pero masaya ako kasi nandito na kami ni AC at ang layo na na narating nga namin,” de Guzman added.
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