For Lady Eagles, it’s school and volley finals at same time

The postponement of Game 1 of the UAAP women’s volleyball finals is both a blessing and a curse for the Ateneo Lady Eagles.

It’s a blessing since it would give them more time to calm their nerves and heal the injuries they sustained during the eliminations, and a curse because the start of the best-of-three finals will also coincide with the school’s finals examination week.

Originally booked to take place this Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, the first game of the best-of-three championship series will now be held on May 2 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The postponement was due to the country’s hosting of the ASEAN Summit which will close many major thoroughfares for security reasons.

Last time Ateneo and finals opponent and defending champion La Salle trooped to the court was over the weekend when they disposed of their respective semifinal foes, both matches a four-setter.

Veteran Mich Morente told ABSCBN that the postponement will allow the squad not only to have more time to get ready but likewise recover from all the bruising they took in the run-up to the finals.

“Well, I think good news din kasi parang we can prepare pa lalo,” said Morente.

“It’s bad news rin for us kasi next week is finals week na namin and yung iba ay pre-finals, so parang finals sa academics, finals sa volleyball, sabay-sabay,” said Morente.

Time management will be the key in winning the series, noted Morente.

But the ceasefire in hostilities should allow the hurting players to recover in time for next week’s opener, said Morente, who, herself, is nursing an abdominal strain sustained during the semifinals.

Other Ateneo spikers who have various injuries include Bea de Leon (foot), Jia Morado (back) and Kat Tolentino (knee) although Morente insists that almost everyone on the roster have various ailments.

Game Two will be held on May 6, and if necessary, Game Three will be on May 10 with the Big Dome as venue for both matches.