Ateneo moves forward as it caps 'learning season'

They may have missed the Final Four bus, but Ateneo de Manila University plans to move forward after what they have described as a season of learning for their women's volleyball program.

Blue Eagles head coach Oliver Almadro admitted that they have to step up for the next season as other programs have also shown improvement.

"Sabi nga 'di ba, it's not a failure but a learning process," Almadro said in a post-game conference.

"Kailangan namin mag-step up for the coming season, coming years. We know for a fact that our program is there but other programs are already catching up on us so we have to rebuild and we have to accept that it will always be a process."

("They say, it's not a failure but a learning process... We need to step up for the coming season, coming years. We know for a fact that our program is there but other programs are already catching up on us so we have to rebuild and we have to accept that it will always be a process.")

Faith Nisperos echoed Almadro's sentiment, adding that the Katipunan-based squad need to 'work smart.'

"Everybody is evolving. Kami naman, it's a learning season nga and more than working hard, we need to start working smart as well kasi nga everyone's evolving and we need to also evolve ourselves and I think dun din kami nagkulang, we didn't push more," said Nisperos. "That's really it kasi skillful ang teammate ko, yet somehow may kulang so that's something we need to go back to the drawing board."

("Everybody is evolving. For us, it's a learning season and more than working hard, we need to start working smart as well because everyone's evolving and we need to also evolve ourselves. And I think that's where we came up short, we didn't push more. That's really it because my teammates are skillful, yet we lacked something so that's something we need to go back to the drawing board.")

Ateneo head coach Oliver Almadro, Faith Nisperos, and Vanie Gandler described Season 85 as a “learning season” for the Blue Eagles @gmasportsph pic.twitter.com/JdskZPDyR8

— JK Carandang (@jk_carandang) April 29, 2023

Despite the luckless season, graduating senior Vanie Gandler believes Ateneo will find its way back on track.

"I think everyone knows that it's been a tough season for us. That's our reality so we just have to accept it, acknowledge all our mistakes, our shortcomings and always move forward," said Gandler. "It's not the end for everyone, it's not the end for Ateneo, it's not the end for me, even if it's my last year in Ateneo. [We] still have a long journey ahead so it's a learning season for us as Coach O said."

For now, the players will have to focus on their academics with final exams coming, then prepare again for the next season.

"'Yun na muna gagawin namin, aayusin ang programa. Narito pa naman ang players, players will help us. [The] players are really motivated after this season to bounce back and step up."

("That's what we'll do, fix the program. The players are still here and they will help us. The players are really motivated after this season to bounce back and step up.")

Ateneo ended their season with a 4-10 card and missed the Final Four for the first time since Season 71.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News