ONCE keen on turning pro by the end of UAAP Season 87, Ateneo seniors Lyann de Guzman and AC Miner now find themselves at a crossroads on staying put for at least another year with the blue-and-white.
What drew them back in to pondering on their Blue Eagle futures were the countless what-ifs and could-have-beens of their recently-concluded campaign, where they wound up with a 5-9 card just like last year.
READ: Ateneo salvages season-ending win, sends UE to winless finish
The major difference? They were hit with a wave of consecutive injuries from the preseason to the early goings of the tournament.
Among their notable absentees this year were their young scoring guns in Sobe Buena, J.Lo delos Santos, and Zel Tsunashima.
For de Guzman’s part, she told SPIN.ph just before the Holy Week break that this Ateneo team could’ve easily been a Final Four contender if it weren’t for such key losses.
“Sa nangyari ngayong season, sabi nga namin na [gusto na naming] makalaro ulit kasama sina J.Lo, sina Zel, sina Sobe. Yun nga, medyo unexpected yung mga nangyari kaya napapaisip ulit kasi sobrang sayang ng season na ‘to,” she said.
“Itong 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.”
The Blue Eagles skipper added: “Sobrang na-feel ko itong season na 'to na kaya naming umabot ng Final Four. Sobrang go talaga kami. Parang si ate Roms [Doromal] lang yung nawala tapos nandiyan pa si Fiona [Arroyo] na dumagdag. ‘Di kami rebuilding team na kailangan mag-adjust pero, yun nga, sa nangyari, napaisip.”
For her part, Miner could only agree that losing one too many aces this season was a tough pill to swallow.
Ateneo's unfinished business
Apart from her own pursuit of growth, the middle blocker-turned-opposite hitter carries the belief that there’s unfinished business still worth settling over in the Eagles’ nest.
“Kami, nag-stay ulit kasi marami pang matututunan kay coach [Sergio Veloso], so what if mag-third year pa kami under coach Sergio [next year], daming possibilities," she said.
“I guess hindi naman masasabi na pro-ready kasi hindi ko kasi alam kung ano po yung ibig sabihin ng pro-ready. Siguro, nasa amin naman yung fighting spirit na lumaban sa pro, pero siguro ‘pag skills, syempre mas marami pa kaming kailangang i-improve.”
Miner posed a question for her and de Guzman to ponder on shortly after their final match of Season 87 — one that ended with a four-set triumph over University of the East.
She asked, “Naisip namin sa mga nangyari, what if isa pa?”
The answer? Only time will tell, for now.
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