ATENEO leaned on total team effort, as it bowed out of UAAP Season 87 with a 25-21, 23-25, 25-16, 27-25 triumph over hapless University of the East on Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Blue Eagles laid a five-game skid to rest for just their second win of the second round of the women's volleyball tournament - but not before having to rally from a 16-22 fourth set deficit and overcome three Lady Warriors set points.
Jihan Chuatico led the blue-and-white's opening-set barrage that took a pause come Set 2 wherein an 8-0 UE run set the pace early. The rookie middle blocker wound up with 16 points on 11 attacks, four blocks, and one ace.
Ateneo's veteran leaders then stepped up to the plate in the endgame to close out the contest through AC Miner’s 12-piece and captain Lyann de Guzman’s 13-point, 15-dig, 17-reception triple-double.
"Sobrang laki ng expectation ko this season especially sila Zel [Tsunashima], Jlo [Delos Santos], Sobe [Buena]. If nakalaro sila, sobrang iba yung team namin ngayon, na very strong talaga," de Guzman said, referring to three key losses to injury they absorbed early in the season.
"'Di natin ine-expect yung mga nangyari, but I’m still happy kasi feel ko na-achieve pa rin namin yung goal namin which is mapakita na kahit konti lang kami, lumalaban pa rin kami. I’m very happy sa mga rookies namin kasi very ready sila na mag-step up talaga and parang hindi sila rookie. Feel ko, sobrang tagal na nila naglalaro sa UAAP."
Even amid an early injury wave, the Katipunan side was able to pull off five wins in 14 matches just like last season where they fell one spot shy of reaching the Final Four.
UE sees red until the end
Over on the losing end, rebuilding UE wrapped up its campaign without a win.
A surprise offseason exodus that left then undermanned and scrambling with late coaching changes resulted to the red-and-white’s first winless season in a decade.
The last time the Recto side finished winless was back in Season 77 in 2015 where both men’s and women’s teams went 0-14.
Returning winger Van Bangayan paced the loss with 16 points, eight digs, and five receptions, backed by mainstay spiker Khy Cepada's 14-piece.
Kayce Balingit was also a dig shy of a triple-double with 13 points, 15 receptions, and nine digs.
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