Ateneo senior Lyann De Guzman bared the impact of having a sports psychologist on the team after the Blue Eagles suffered devastating setbacks to begin UAAP Season 87.
The Ateneo Blue Eagles were able to score a breakthrough despite all setbacks to begin their UAAP Season 87 campaign, taking a surprising sweep over the UP Fighting Maroons at the Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday.
Down to 12 players strong due to injuries to both Zel Tsunashima and JLo Delos Santos, the woes have set a physical strain on the Blue Eagles, who have needed to make do with their current set of healthy players.
[RELATED: Ateneo Blue Eagles barge into UAAP Season 87 win column with shock sweep over UP]
But more than the physical load, it was also a mental battle for the Blue Eagles who needed to buck a gruesome injury to Tsunashima in their opening game against Adamson.
Luckily for the Blue Eagles, they have a trusty sports psychology duo within their coaching staff to help them with their mental battles.
For senior hitter Lyann De Guzman, they provide a big boost to their morale especially after everything that has happened so early in UAAP Season 87.
“Actually very thankful kela ma'am Juju [Joseph], coach Cam [Rodriguez], kasi sobrang, andiyan sila to help us manage our emotions, and nandiyan din sila kung may kailangan kaming iopen up like nahihirapan kami sa ganitong aspect,” said De Guzman, who finished with 14 points in the win.
“Nandiyan lang sila para makinig and to help us kung ano yung pwedeng keys sa gagawin namin,” she added.
But it hasn’t been just the negative emotions that Ateneo needs regulated.
[RELATED: Sobe Buena happy to make her presence felt for injury-hit Ateneo Blue Eagles in win vs UP]
Rather, now that they’re already on the win column, the Blue Eagles also want to keep their eyes and emotions leveled with the rest of the season still to go.
Not one to get ahead of themselves, De Guzman said that they’re taking things one step at a time.
“Yun nga, sabi nga ni coach [Sergio Veloso], one game at a time kami and of course, after nito, kailangan lang namin ulit mag-focus sa susunod na game since we have a week to prepare,” said De Guzman.
“Syempre, dapat kung ano yung natutunan namin this game, madala din namin sa susunod na game and mas ma-improve pa kung ano yung kailangan namin i-improve,” she added.
The Ateneo Blue Eagles face their next test in the form of the FEU Lady Tamaraws when they lock horns next Sunday, March 2, still at the Mall of Asia Arena.