Almadro debunks tag with 3-peat feat

CEBU, Philippines - Once called “the weakest link” by bashers, Ateneo coach Oliver Almadro has proven otherwise. Not once, not twice, but thrice now.

Turning emotional after steering the Blue Eagles to a three-peat spiked by a perfect 16-0 record, Almadro said the unfair tag he was given pushed him to prove his worth in UAAP men’s volleyball.

“They say I’m the weakest link. Now I’m proving them that I’m not,” he said in tears.

Almadro had a brief stint with National U, which triumphed twice in a row after his departure. He returned to Ateneo and made the most of his second chance.

“I surpassed their back-to-back, we are three-peat champions and we’re going for four,” he said.

Almadro’s three-string championship put him in the company of coaching greats like Emil Lontoc of University of Santo Tomas and Kid Santos of Far Eastern U.

“It’s really special to me,” he said, thanking Ateneo for the trust. “For all the challenges in my career, my struggles, Ateneo believed in me.”

Led by four-time MVP Marck Espejo, the Blue Eagles achieved history for the school by sweeping the 14 game elims en route to an outright stint in the best-of-three finals.

After a three-week lull, the Ateneo spikers found themselves pushed to the limit by their rival Bulldogs but proved up to the task and swept the series, 2-0.

“That 16-0 was really on the players; it was the fruit of all their hard work and sacrifices, especially in practices,” said Almadro.