Ateneo head coach Sergio Veloso has the utmost belief that the Blue Eagles are peaking at the right time in the UAAP Season 87 women's volleyball tournament.
Just like that, the Ateneo Blue Eagles are firmly in Final Four contention after they extended their win streak to three games--thanks to a 3-0 drubbing of the Adamson Lady Falcons in their second round encounter in UAAP Season 87 on Saturday.
Learning from their season opener where they suffered a reverse sweep loss at the hands of the San Marcelino squad, it seems like everything has already fallen into place for Sergio Veloso and the Blue Eagles.
Recovering from a tumultuous first round that saw multiple key players suffer season-ending injuries, an 11-woman strong lineup has since found their rhythm and are now knocking on the Final Four door with their 4-5 slate.
[RELATED: UAAP: Ateneo Blue Eagles finish off Adamson Lady Falcons, extend win streak to three]
Still with five games remaining in eliminations, Veloso is optimistic of their chances. Not only because of how his players have adjusted, but more so their fighting spirit.
“I'm so confident because I know my team. I know what this team did in practice, and this is my job. I need to transfer what my player learn in practice to the match. It's my responsibility,” said Veloso after the game.
“But the most important [thing], the players, they are fighting. They never give up. This is so important. Because no matter what the score, sometimes, like our last match, 14-11, and we can turn this around,” he added.
But against Adamson, there were no comebacks needed as they skillfully swept their foes.
It was a key victory for the Blue Eagles who broke out of a 3-5 stalemate in the standings with Adamson, getting themselves ahead from the bottom half of the standings.
With the race for the Final Four heating up every day, Veloso said that are keen to continue on fighting thanks to a one game at a time mentality.
“We can improve match by match and, we have a chance to be in the Top 4, and we will fight for that,” said Veloso.
“As I told [them] the other day, our focus it's now [on] the next match. The most important for us. The next match is the most important… We can use these situations to improve and to play better. Because our players, my team, never stops,” he added.
Wednesday will bring a litmus test for Ateneo though, as they face highly capable rivals La Salle--who are also jockeying for position in a race for the semifinals slots.
With both teams eager to bank wins ahead of the final stretch of eliminations, fans can expect fireworks at the Big Dome.
Ateneo-La Salle is penciled in for 1 pm on Wednesday, April 2, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.