Ateneo aims to be the best team outside semis

The Ateneo Lady Eagles UAAP PHOTO

To the best team outside the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball semifinals.

Ateneo head coach Sergio Veloso said this is the Blue Eagles’ goal now that they have bowed out of contention for the final four.

They put themselves in a good position to do that after defeating their first round tormentors University of the East Lady Warriors, 25-17, 23-25, 25-23, 25-16, at the Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday, April 14.

“Yeah. Our target all the time was to get to Top 4 but now, I think there is no more chance to stay in the top 4. But we need to fight for the best position. This match is so important because we have 10 points and UE has 10, (also Adamson),” said Veloso.

“It’s on us to take care of our job. We need more points to stay in this position (No. 5). I’m happy because after our last match, we played with a high level and intensity,” added Veloso, whose team currently has a 4-8 record, fifth-best in the league.

Team captain and libero Roma Mae Doromal as well as spiker Lyann De Guzman added that the Blue Eagles are just out to enjoy their last two games of the season, but also play their best for the Ateneo community.

“We’ve already accepted that we’re out of Final Four contention. I told them that we should just enjoy and cherish our moments together as well as give our best for the Ateneo community,” said Doromal.

“As Ate Roms said, we’re just going to enjoy our games. We’re going to play our game and follow the coaches’ system because we have nothing to lose by playing our game,” said De Guzman.

Doromal and De Guzman certainly lived up to their words as the former logged 23 excellent digs and 23 receptions, while the latter fired 25 points, 10 digs, and seven receptions.

The Blue Eagles will face the De La Salle Lady Spikers on April 21 and the Adamson Lady Falcons on April 24 to wrap their season.