Lady Eagles try to cap perfect year Saturday

MANILA, Philippines—Ateneo aims to stick to its coach’s winning playbook as the Lady Eagles shoot for a perfect season in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament Saturday.

“We’re going to play our hearts out,” said Ateneo star spiker Alyssa Valdez. “Coach Tai [Bundit] always reminds us to have teamwork. His game plan is for us to play happy and to play as one.”

Unbeaten in 15 games, the Lady Eagles go for a second straight championship versus rival La Salle in Game 2 of the Finals at 3:30 p.m. at Mall of Asia Arena.

Valdez, who is set to receive her second successive MVP award, also leads the top individual performers who will be honored by the league earlier at 3 p.m.

“We cannot relax,” said Valdez. “We can’t do anything about [the La Salle players’ injuries]. But the girls are very strong and brave.  [The Lady Spikers’] mindset is also not to give up.”

The Lady Eagles easily put the Lady Spikers away in Game 1, 25-18, 25-19, 25-19, as La Salle’s standout hitter Ara Galang sat helplessly on the bench due to a knee injury sustained in the semifinals.

But another disaster struck La Salle when veteran Camille Cruz also went down to a knee injury late in the third set of Game 1.

Although the odds are stacked against them, the Lady Spikers still see the possibility of an upset.

“It’s do-or-die for us, that’s why we have to double our effort,” said hitter Cyd Demecillo.

The Lady Eagles hold a thrice-to-beat advantage, which is equivalent to a 1-0 lead in a best-of-five series.