Ateneo’s road to the championship

The Lady Eagles and supporters celebrate at the podium. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

MANILA, Philippines – Ateneo had to go through a wringer before clinching its first ever UAAP volleyball crown Saturday.

And the Lady Eagles’ improbable championship run started nearly a month ago when they finished third in the elimination round.

Here’s a look at Ateneo’s road to its historic title:

– Ateneo booked its place in the stepladder Final Four as the third seed with a 10-4 record.

– The Lady Eagles beat the no.4 Adamson Lady Falcons at the start of the semifinals, 26-24, 25-23, 25-21 on Feb. 22 to advance into the next phase.

– Tagged as the underdog, Ateneo stunned no.2 National University, 25-17, 12-25, 31-29, 28-26, to force a do-or-die for the last finals berth.

– Riding high on their win over the Lady Bulldogs, the Lady Eagles prevailed anew, 25-22, 8-25, 25-19, 25-22 to book a ticket to the finals against a familiar foe.

– On a roll, Ateneo showed it stands as a serious threat to La Salle’s reign with a 17-25, 25-23, 25-13, 25-20 shocker in their finals opener –negating the Lady Spikers’ thrice-to-beat advantage.

– The Lady Eagles fell short, 14-25, 20-25, 25-19, 24-26, in Game 2 as the Lady Spikers regained their form.

– Ateneo though, proved its Game 1 win was no fluke with a grueling 25-21, 25-23, 18-25, 16-25, 17-15, victory last Wednesday as the Lady Eagles moved closer to history.

– Nothing to lose, Ateneo was the steadier team as it hurdled its fifth knockout game of the playoffs to cap its seemingly impossible feat with a championship clinching 25-23, 26-24, 25-21 win — foiling La Salle’s ‘four-peat’ bid.

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