Ateneo wards off pressure

Reigning champion Ateneo de Manila University will be marching to Season 82 University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) women’s volleyball tournament with zero pressure.

Skipper Ponggay Gaston said repeating as champions is far from their minds knowing that other teams like University of Santo Tomas, De La Salle University and Far Eastern University will be coming up with a strong performance in the most prestigious collegiate league in the country. But Ateneo will be heading to the tourney as the most favored squad. The Lady Eagles may have lost Bea de Leon and Maddie Madayag, but Jhoanna Maraguinot, Kat Tolentino and Jamie Lavitoria will be making a return to join the solid core of Gaston, Dani Ravena, Vannie Gandler and touted rookie Faith Nisperos.

Gaston said they may be strong on paper, but they are taking the tournament one game at a time, especially since other teams have also improved.

“Well, there’s no pressure at all,” the comely wing spiker said. “At first, it was hard knowing that I have no batchmate in the current roster as a lot of them are rookies. Fortunately, there would be some returning seniors who would be there to guide and help me.”

Tolentino will be making a return after announcing that she will forego her final playing year following their title conquest last year while Maraguinot and Lavitoria decided to suit up anew after campaigning for Sta. Lucia and Generika-Ayala in the Philippine Superliga, respectively.

Gaston said one leader would not be enough.