MANILA, Philippines – The Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles are growing in confidence with each victory in the V-League Season 13 Collegiate Conference, but new team captain Michelle Morente feels there is still much room for improvement.

Ateneo pulled off a stunner last Saturday when they swept the erstwhile unbeaten National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs to stay in the hunt for a quarterfinals spot. Then last Monday, they earned a ticket to the playoffs with a four-set win over Technical Institute of the Philippines (TIP).

It was a "revenge game" of sorts for the Lady Eagles, who lost to TIP in five sets in their first game of the conference, in what was their first contest without longtime team captain and star open spiker Alyssa Valdez.

(READ: Lady Eagles punch last quarterfinals ticket)

"'Yun 'yung first game namin as a team, as a young team," said Morente, looking back to their stunning loss at the hands of TIP. "First game namin, ako first time ko makabalik, sila Jules Samonte, first game niya as a rookie."

"So nag-add on 'yung mga jitters. At saka kinakapa pa namin kung ano 'yung galawan namin. Kinakapa pa namin kung ano 'yung mga receive namin, mga palo, depensa," she added.

Much has changed since Ateneo lost to TIP. In their first game against the Lady Engineers, incoming sophomore Pauline Gaston was playing as an opener and was the first option on offense, as both veterans Bea de Leon and Jhoanna Maraguinot sitting out due to injury.

Morente was still off-rhythm, as she was playing her way back into game shape after sitting out an entire year. There were times when the Lady Eagles' offense looked lost and off-kilter, and it was clear they were still adjusting from Valdez's absence.

Against TIP on Monday, it took Ateneo one set to find its bearings before dominating the next three en route to victory. De Leon was back to anchor the net defense, while Morente was playing at a higher level. Ana Gopico took Gaston's position as a starter, while the latter became their first option off the bench.

"Habang tumatagal, mas nakikilala namin 'yung isa't isa. So nag-gel kami, nagagawa namin 'yung roles namin as players doon sa loob ng court," Morente explained.

"Nag-gain 'yung confidence namin, not just as players, but as a team also. Doon din namin nakita 'yung kaya pa naming lumaban habang hindi pa tapos 'yung set, hindi pa tapos 'yung game, hindi pa tapos 'yung laban," she added.

The Lady Eagles carried a 1-1 record from the group round into the quarterfinals, where they will face Far Eastern University, University of the Philippines, and University of Santo Tomas.

It will be a good challenge for the rebuilding Lady Eagles, said Morente.

"Doon talaga namin makikita ang sarili namin, kung paano pa kami magwo-work as a team, paano pa kami gagalaw sa loob ng court, paano kami maga-adjust sa each team," she noted.

After a poor start to the conference – Ateneo also lost in straight sets to San Sebastian College following its setback to TIP – the Lady Eagles seemed to have found their groove, and Morente is optimistic.

"Sa nakikita ko, maganda ang pinapakita ng team," she observed. "Sobrang, sobrang ganda ng pinapakita nila."

"Pero marami pa kaming kailangan i-improve as a team," she was quick to add. "Marami pa kaming errors. Sobrang dami pa talaga."

The Lady Eagles will open their quarterfinals campaign on Saturday against the UST Tigresses.

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