Ateneo rookie Jules Samonte vs FEU blockers. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
For the past five years, Ateneo was the model of volleyball consistency after making it to the UAAP finals five times and winning the title in back-to-back fashion.
But those days are over as the Lady Eagles hit turbulence early in the offseason, but rookie Jules Samonte is embracing every challenging minute.
Samonte, who came from La Salle-Zobel in highschool, remains confident that the Lady Eagles can turn it around amid the Lady Eagles’ struggles in the Shakey’s V-League.
“Pero nag te-train naman po kami and sinasabi naman po ni coach [Tai Bundit] na kaya naman, we can do it, and iniisip ko na kaya naman ng team.”
Ateneo on Wednesday lost in three sets to Far Eastern University in a match where Samonte had seven points switching between the middle and open positions.
The loss put Ateneo at a 2-3 record and pitted them against San Sebastian in a playoff for the final semis berth.
That game will be the the Lady Eagles’ fourth do-or-die match in the conference, and Samonte said they are prepared to tackle the challenge head on.
“If we put our minds into it, we’ll just train harder we’ll see that on Saturday.”