Ateneo men's volleyball team working to avoid rust amid long layoff | ABS-CBN

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Ateneo men's volleyball team working to avoid rust amid long layoff

Ateneo men's volleyball team working to avoid rust amid long layoff

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

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Marck Espejo soars for a spike against NU, in Ateneo's last UAAP Season 79 elimination round game. Arvin Lim, ABS-CBN Sports

MANILA, Philippines – The Ateneo Blue Eagles will not deny that their long break in the UAAP Season 79 men's volleyball tournament is a cause of concern.

This was further compounded when the Game 1 of the Finals was moved to a later date.

Ateneo has not played a UAAP game since April 8, when they dismantled National University (NU) in three sets to complete a 14-game sweep of the elimination round and earn at outright Finals berth. Since then, the Blue Eagles have been trying to sustain their form through practice and tune-up games, while waiting for their opponent.

It was only last Wednesday when they found out whom they will play in the Finals, after NU outlasted Far Eastern University in the stepladder semifinals to claim the other berth.

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Game 1 of the best-of-3 series, originally scheduled for Saturday, April 29, will now be held on Tuesday, May 2.

"Akala namin sa Saturday na," Ateneo's Marck Espejo said Tuesday, when the shift in schedule was announced. "Ang tagal na naming na-bakante."

[We thought we'd be playing on Saturday. We've been out of action for a long time.]

By the time the three-peat seeking Blue Eagles enter Araneta Coliseum for Game 1, they would have been out of UAAP action for a stunning 23 days.

"Ang tagal na," Espejo stressed. "Kumbaga, parang ano kami, parang plastic na punong-puno ng tubig na gustong-gusto nang sumabog talaga."

"Siyempre, lahat naghihintay na rin," he added. "And 'yung Finals po, masasabay din sa finals namin (sa school), so sobrang hassle kasi siguro, marami kang iisipin."

[It's been a long break. Right now, we feel like we're a plastic bag that's full of water, and we want to explode. What's worse is that the UAAP Finals will now coincide with our finals week in school, so that's a hassle.]

Another issue that comes with the long break is that the Blue Eagles are in very real danger of getting rusty, despite their continued training. Espejo knows that playing in actual UAAP matches are very different from playing in tune-ups.

"Tuloy-tuloy din (kami). Wala nga lang 'yung ambiance ng court, ng mga kalaban, 'yung ingay sa loob ng court," said Espejo.

[We still play. But the ambiance of the court is not there.]

The Blue Eagles have held regular tune-up matches against Cignal HD, who are also preparing for their campaign in the men's division of the Premier Volleyball League.

"After every tune-up, nage-evaluate kami kung ano ang mga kulang namin," said Espejo. "Siguro, pahinga na rin ito sa amin, pero pahinga na at the same time, pangit na pahinga."

"Kasi, hindi mo nakikita ang mga kalaban mo, and matagal na rin ang pahinga," he added.

[After every tune-up, we evaluate. This is just rest for us, but it's not the good kind of rest.]

There is also the question of momentum. NU survived an epic five-set war against the Tamaraws on Wednesday, overcoming a one-set deficit twice and showing tremendous heart in the fourth frame, where they rallied from a six-point hole to claim the win.

Given their performance last Wednesday, the Bulldogs are counting on momentum to be on their side come Game 1, and they fully anticipate that the Blue Eagles will be somewhat rusty.

Nevertheless, Espejo remains confident about their chances in Game 1. The Blue Eagles won both of their games against NU this season in fairly comfortable fashion, and they have dominated the Bulldogs since Season 77.

"Confident po kaming lahat, lalo na sa ginagawa naming ensayo," said Espejo. "Although may mga instances na hindi namin magawa ng maayos, andoon naman si Coach O (Oliver Almadro) para i-push kami."

[We're still confident because of what we do in practice. There are times where we don't execute well, but Coach O is always there to push us.]

For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN Sports website.

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