Got a tip? Send it to us at manila@coconuts.co.
MANILA, Philippines – It was the perfect ending to the UAAP careers of Ateneo veterans Denden Lazaro, Ella de Jesus and Aerieal Patnongon as they bowed out with back-to-back women’s volleyball championships.
All three were part of the Ateneo squad that won a breakthrough championship in Season 76 and then completed a historic 16-0 campaign in Season 77.
Lazaro, Ateneo’s decorated libero, could not hide her tears after the Lady Eagles defeated rivals La Salle in straight sets last Saturday to claim their second straight championship.
“Hindi ko talaga akalain na magagawa namin ito,” she said. “Tapos na sweep pa namin – sobrang unbelievable. Sobrang fulfilling, kasi buong year namin pinaghirapan ito, as in buong year, twice-a-day kami, araw-araw.”
De Jesus, who endeared herself to fans with her leaping ability and strength that belied her height, said the season was “priceless.”
“Wala akong ine-expect sa lahat na na-achieve namin, from last year to this year,” said De Jesus, nicknamed the “Ella-vator” for her jumping ability. “Lalo na this year, kasi na-sweep nga namin ‘yung buong season. Sobrang unexpected.”
Patnongon played a bigger role in Ateneo’s Season 76 title run as she started all four Finals games then, but mostly came off the bench this year. She did step up for the squad midway through the season when rookie middle hitter Bea de Leon briefly went down with a finger injury.
“Sobrang hirap ng pinagdaanan namin,” said Patnongon. “Pero sobrang thankful pa rin ako.”
All three players will be missed, but especially Lazaro and De Jesus, who were the anchors of Ateneo’s floor defense this season.
“Ang laki talagang kawalan ni Ella and Denden, sobra,” said Ateneo’s Alyssa Valdez. “Hindi lang ‘yung skills eh. Nawala pati ‘yung guidance, leadership.”
“They have different paths to take na, so definitely malaking loss talaga,” she added.
Former Ateneo star Charo Soriano, now part of the team’s coaching staff, lauded the graduating players for their “spectacular” performances this season.
“It’s not only because of Alyssa why they’re very solid. It’s because the seniors were able to collaborate well together with the rest of the team, especially the rookies, in solidifying the flow of everything,” she explained.
Even with three key players leaving, Ateneo remains one of the top contenders next season as they will still have Valdez, Finals MVP Amy Ahomiro, Best Setter Jia Morado, as well as several promising and up-and-coming players including Michelle Morente and Jhoana Maraguinot.
Yet Valdez refused to make any guarantees.
“We really don’t know, wala pang nagt-try out, wala pa kaming alam kung sino papasok,” she said.
The one thing that they are sure of is that they will continue to play with the philosophy that brought them to two championships.
“One game at a time,” Valdez said. “It’s working for us.”
“We’ll keep it that way,” added Ahomiro. — Camille B. Naredo
Photo: Mark Cristino/ABS-CBNNews.com
This story was republished with permission from ABS-CBNNews.com
