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UAAP volleyball: 5-set war against Adamson a welcome challenge for Ateneo

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Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/sports/03/27/ateneo.jpg"/><figcaption>The Ateneo Lady Eagles are one win away from securing a Final 4 spot. Arvin Lim, <a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/uaap/volleyball/photos">ABS-CBN Sports</a></figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines – The Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles were expected to be a rebuilding team in the UAAP Season 80 women&#x27;s volleyball tournament, after a topsy-turvy offseason that saw the departure of top stars Jia Morado and Michelle Morente. The Lady Eagles initially lived up to preseason projections. They dropped their first two matches of the season and struggled with their reception and floor defense. For a stretch, Ateneo was the worst receiving team in the league. Since those two losses, however, Ateneo has won eight of its last nine games – with the lone loss coming at the hands of defending champion De La Salle University. Their reception remains spotty, but Ponggay Gaston – a surprise pick for a libero – has done a solid job, and setter Deanna Wong has been impressive in her first full year in the job. Ateneo&#x27;s bevy of attackers have also been superb as the Lady Eagles are the best spiking team in the UAAP at 30.94%. Their net defense has also been commendable, and they lead the league in blocking with 2.53 blocks per set. On Sunday, a team that was supposedly rebuilding clinched a playoff for a Final 4 spot in UAAP Season 80. The Lady Eagles recovered from a set down twice, overcame a seven-point deficit late in the fourth set, and stood firm in the fifth set to turn back Adamson University in an instant classic, 24-26, 25-19, 21-25, 26-24, 15-12. <ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/uaap/news/2018/03/26/uaap-volleyball-player-of-the-week-deanna-wong-ateneo-39503">UAAP VOLLEYBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Deanna Wong of Ateneo</a></li></ul>&quot;We never gave up lang, that&#x27;s the thing,&quot; said Wong, who registered a career-high 63 excellent sets in the win. &quot;It really all boils down to character, and what Coach Tai (Bundit) always says – heart strong talaga &#x27;yung nakapunta sa isip namin.&quot; &quot;We trusted our teammates lang and we encouraged each other back, we said na no matter what happens just play our best and everything else will follow,&quot; she said. Ateneo now just needs one more victory to formalize its entry to the Final 4 for the ninth season in a row – the second longest active streak in the league behind La Salle. According to Ateneo skipper Maddie Madayag, it is those battles like the one they had against Adamson that helped the Lady Eagles become a formidable squad despite losing their ace playmaker in Morado and their best all-around player in Morente. &quot;That&#x27;s what really makes the team,&quot; explained Madayag. &quot;We go through challenges, and that&#x27;s how they build you as a team talaga.&quot; &quot;That&#x27;s why I guess this is a really great experience for the team. Na-test nga &#x27;yung character namin, &#x27;yung skills namin, &#x27;yung tatag ng loob namin,&quot; she added. &quot;It&#x27;s a really good experience.&quot; Their five-set war against Adamson was only the latest challenge that Ateneo powered through in Season 80. They have played in four five-set matches in Season 80, compiling a 2-2 record. The two losses were against Far Eastern University and National University in their first two assignments, and the two wins came at Adamson&#x27;s expense. &quot;Adamson gave us a really good fight,&quot; said Madayag. &quot;They tested us all in the blocking, spiking, receiving, serving.&quot; &quot;We take all teams seriously talaga,&quot; she added. As they continue their march to the Final 4, the Lady Eagles are more than ready to face similar challenges, believing that it will only make them stronger for the tougher tasks ahead. &quot;It&#x27;s a test of character,&quot; as Madayag stressed. &quot;We showed what true heart strong mantra really is.&quot; &quot;This tested our team, and we became more jelled together. Sabi nga ni Deanna, we trusted each other. Even though we still committed errors, may bumawi naman for the error na &#x27;yun.&quot; Ateneo can clinch a Final 4 spot with a victory over University of Santo Tomas on April 4. For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.

"We go through challenges, and that's how they build you as a team talaga."

UAAP volleyball: 5-set war against Adamson a welcome challenge for Ateneo

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UAAP volleyball: 5-set war against Adamson a welcome challenge for Ateneo

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 27, 2018 07:44 PM PHT

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UAAP

volleyball

Ateneo Lady Eagles

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