BY Andrei Barrantes
AFTER the confirmation that Zel Tsunashima and J.Lo delos Santos will sit out the rest of UAAP Season 87 to recover from injuries, head coach Sergio Veloso remains confident in the rest of Ateneo to hold down the fort.
READ: Ateneo's wings clipped with Tsunashima, delos Santos injuries
“I don't like to push the other players, but it's an opportunity, okay? If you want to play, you need to use this opportunity… Like our team, you get good players like Jihan [Chuatico] and the other ones [who] can play,” he said.
Veloso added that the team will depend more heavily on balancing the rotation, highlighting Blue Eagles rookie Alex Montoro as one of the key replacements. Also mentioned was veteran spiker Sophie Buena, who is ramping up for a return from injury as well.
“We need to use Alex. She's a rookie, so sometimes it's normal she feels a little pressure. And Sophie [is] recovering, she needs, I think, more weeks to return," he said.
Montoro scored nine points and seven receptions, mirroring Ateneo captain Lyann de Guzman and middle blocker AC Miner in scoring in their second defeat at the hands of defending champion National U.
Zel and J.Lo on the road to recovery
Meanwhile, the lead tactician for Katipunan also provided a short update on the status of Tsunashima and delos Santos.
“She (Tsunashima) did surgery on monday, and J.Lo stopped [by] yesterday to do physical therapy. She can stay fit, but unfortunately, she cannot play the season because she needs the time to recover," he said.
With the Blue Eagles down to 12 players and dropped to 0-2, it's up to the rest of the squad, especially the younger ones, to come through for a hoped-for comeback.
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