By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

THE start of the volleyball tournament of Season 82 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) may have been postponed for a later date but last year’s women’s finals protagonists expressed readiness to make another competitive run in the tournament once the go-ahead is given.

The Ateneo Lady Eagles and University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Tigresses are coming into the tournament highly motivated to see their respective causes through.

Defending champion Ateneo is out to make it back-to-back titles in the UAAP, and fourth championship in the last seven years in the league, when Season 82 finally unfurls.

It will be a mix of veteran and young talents for the Oliver Almadro-coached team, which edged the Tigresses in the finals last year, 2-1.

Ateneo lost some key pieces from last season to graduation like captain Bea de Leon and Maddie Madayag while setter Deanna Wong is expected to miss this season because of a shin injury but the team is to be boosted by a couple of players who have decided to return this year.

Jhoana Maraguinot is back in the Eagles’ nest to play in her final year of eligibility after not playing in Season 81 as well as Jamie Lavitoria who spent time in the Philippine Super Liga last year.

Also returning is Kat Tolentino, who initially revealed she was foregoing her final year in the UAAP after their title conquest last season but had a change of heart.

The trio will join a roster boasting of the likes of libero Dani Ravena, setter Jaja Maraguinot, Jules Samonte, Vannie Gandler, Ponggay Gaston, Erika Raagas and rookie Faith Nisperos.

While confident with the team they have, Mr. Almadro said having an injury-free season would go a long way for them and their quest to maintain their position on top of the heap in UAAP women’s volleyball.

“We are prepared to take on the challenge as defending champions. We have stepped up our preparation and we’re hoping for an injury-free season so we can pursue our mission better especially against a competitive field,” said Mr. Almadro at the press conference last week intended for what was supposed to be the start of the tournament on Feb. 15.

THE TIGRESSES
For the UST women’s team, meanwhile, it aims to sustain the breakthrough campaign it had last season where it barged to the finals of the UAAP after eight years.

The Tigresses no longer have league most valuable player and heart and soul Sisi Rondina, who played out her eligibility in Season 81, and are set to continue to miss the services of injured Filipino-Italian hitter Milena Alessadrini (knee) this season but they remain upbeat doing well anew.

Leading the way for UST is sophomore Eya Laure, who will join forces with her come-backing sister EJ in Season 82.

Also part of the team seeing action this year are captain Alina Bicar, Mafe Galanza, KC Galdones, Tin Francisco and Ysa Jimenez.

“For the UST women’s team it was the same preparation for us. We are expecting an exciting season with exciting players,” said Tigresses coach Kung Fu Reyes also at the press conference.

The UST coach said it will be difficult to replace what Rondina brought for them on the court but he is hoping that the experience they got in their spirited run last year would motivate his players to do well again this year.

Mr. Reyes and the Tigresses were actually a win away from taking the title in Season 81 after surprising the top-seeded Lady Eagles in Game One of the finals, 3-0, before the Lady Eagles took the next two games to win the title.

The start of UAAP Season 82 volleyball was deferred to a still-to-be-determined date over concerns on the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which also forced many sporting events this month to be postponed.

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