Ateneo and La Salle Set For Rematch on Sunday.
After being lambasted by De La Salle with 3-0 on their first match, Ateneo Lady Eagles are gearing up for their team’s rematch to their closest rival on this season’s UAAP Women’s Volleyball.
When their 24-match winning streak was impressively snapped by the De La Salle, the defending champions are seemed on shoulders-down with their confidence being affected however instantly putting up their best for a better performance.
On Sunday, the two teams will clash anew in their most anticipated second round. The match will conclude the Lady Eagles’ elimination round campaign in the season 78, if they win over La Salle they will be secured of the top seed in the Final 4.
Valdez, star player of the Ateneo, who was previously upset for their losing games, admitted that there are a lot of things that they have to improve.
“We’re going to go back and train again and look for the things that we have to improve on, and hopefully, we’ll be ready on Sunday,” she said.
In their previous match with La Salle, Valdez have not positioned herself well as blockers Kim Dy and Mika Reyes overwhelmed her strike. La Salle countered with heavy serves foiling the time of Ateneo in the sets.
La Salle eventually broke the winning streak of the Ateneo which started back to 2014.
As the Ateneo is too eager to put La Salle in its space, Valdez said they cannot get overwhelmed by their emotions this time.
“We really have to stay calm, stay focused, and stay happy inside and outside of the court,” the two-time MVP said.
Valdez added that they have to improve even on the little things especially on the details inside the court for offense and defense.
Watch how La Salle ounces Ateneo in their first match:
Amy Ahomiro, the middle blocker, on the other hand said that they may have a bad performance in the first round but they are hoping to make up to that. She added that they will play as a team.
Ahomiro noted that hopefully they will play as they became particular of what they lacked in the last game.
In the previous season, the two rivals also faced off in the finals leaving La Salle on bended knees with 3-0, making the Blue Eagles as the defending champions.
With colors of blue and green tomorrow, only one team will be on the top of the record. Whether that would still be the Ateneo or the La Salle getting its confidence back on track, the teams in the volleyball must have learned something from this season as Filipinos are getting excited of the heated rematch.