UAAP: Rebuilding Ateneo heading into new season with stronger bond

Roma Mae Doromal is Ateneo Blue Eagles’ team captain for UAAP Season 86. –UAAP PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines— Ateneo may have lost key players Faith Nisperos and Vanie Gandler but new Blue Eagles captain Roma Mae Doromal believes that their rebuilding team was able to form a stronger bond, which could be their advantage in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament starting next week.

After missing the Final Four for the first time in 14 years last Season 85, the Blue Eagles will be parading a new look roster under Brazilian coach Sergio Veloso, who replaced Oliver Almadro.

But Doromal, who will be the second libero captain for Ateneo after Dani Ravena in Season 84, is optimistic about the chemistry they formed with holdovers AC Miner, Lyann De Guzman, Geezel Tsunashima, and Yvana Sulit as well as rookie setter Katherine Cortez from Bacolod Tay Tung High School.

READ: Sergio Veloso, new Ateneo women’s coach, excited over program’s future

“Since the team is young, the sisterhood is solid and we understand each other better,”  said Doromal after Ateneo placed fourth in the Akari Invitational Cup, losing to Nxled in four sets on Wednesday.

Playing for a team that won three titles in several UAAP finals appearances in the past decade comes with a lot of pressure and so is lifting a once successful program from the ashes.

Doromal and the Blue Eagles accept the challenge with Veloso instilling a winning culture with a fun atmosphere in the team.

READ: Ateneo commit Katherine Cortez eager to help Blue Eagles return to Final Four

“The pressure is there, but there’s nothing we can do about it but embrace it. Coach helps us skill by skill and he’s also helping us change our mentality during the game. He tells us to enjoy the game because that’ll help us,” she said.

The ace libero shared that the young Ateneo squad been receptive to the changes in system and culture instilled by the  Philippine men’s volleyball team coach. 

“It wasn’t smooth sailing, especially with the new coach and system, but we’ve reached where we wanted to be. We’re open and very willing to improve, so everything coach teaches us, we accept it,” said Doromal. “And we’re happy because we can see the results, we’re able to keep up so we need to be more consistent and train more.”

Doromal was pleased with their preseason preparations including their final pocket tournament in the Akari Invitational Conference, where they faced UAAP rival Adamson, Premier Volleyball League teams Akari and Nxled, and NCAA schools Arellano and University of Perpetual Help.

“Coach said this was a good opportunity especially we’re playing against pro teams, UAAP teams, and NCAA teams. We’re able to use our learnings here and will help us see which level we’re at right now,” she said.