As the saying goes: "Trust the process."
The Ateneo Blue Eagles haven’t had much success in recent years.
After winning it all in UAAP Season 81, the Blue Eagles have been on a slow downtrend which was fully realized last year after the team missed the Final Four for the first time since Season 71.
Heading into Season 86, Ateneo has accepted its rebuilding phase which the team hope won’t be too long.
Head coach: Sergio Veloso
Key losses: Vanie Gandler, Faith Nispersos, Joan Narit
Key returnees: Roma Mae Doromal, AC Miner, Geezel Tsunashima
Season 85 record: 4-10 (6th place)
The Blue Eagles are starting the new UAAP season with a fresh start headed by their new coach Sergio Veloso, who is still eyeing a Final Four finish with the team.
While many believe that this could be a long shot, Ateneo has been a team that likes to prove its doubters wrong.
And even with the team’s poor performances in the past two years, recruits are still finding themselves wanting to join the Katipunan-based squad.
Among those is rookie setter KC Cortez, who was highly sought after by teams before she made her decision.
“Why Ateneo? Kasi dream school ko talaga ito since bata pa ako. Naging idol ko si Alyssa Valdez tsaka Jia Morado kaya siguro pinili ko din 'yung Ateneo kasi iba talaga kapag nag-graduate ka ng Ateneo,” Cortez told One Sports.
Even without having played a single minute in the UAAP, Cortez is already looking to bring a positive attitude to the team.
“I think 'yung maco-contribute ko sa team na ito is 'yung positive attitude. Tsaka 'yung discipline tsaka 'yung character ko na ma-angat [‘yung teammates ko],” said Cortez.
Results may not come easy for Ateneo this season, but it’s building a positive mentality that will help the decorated team climb back to the top in the years to come.