Amid setbacks, Ateneo gets last laugh in UAAP 81 volleyball

MANILA, Philippines — Despite stumbling on their journey to the top, the Ateneo Lady Eagles come away victorious in the end.

They had faced many adversities in their championship run, including being swept by longtime rivals DLSU in their season series.

Even in the postseason, the Lady Eagles were forced to grind it out, facing a handful of do-or-die situations against FEU and UST.

But for first-year mentor Oliver Almadro, it was all about the final stretch.

"It's not how you start, it's how you end. (When) We lost the first match of the season, many people counted us out," Almadro said.

"But we made it... because of our faith and because of our courage," he added.

Almadro returned the Katipunan-based squad to UAAP glory in his maiden season with the team, but the multi-titled coach was quick to deflect the credit to his squad's unity.

"We will not be that perfect player, [and] I will not be that perfect coach but we work as a team and we work as a family," Almadro said.

After coaching the Ateneo men's volleyball squad to a three-peat, the future can only be brighter for Almadro and his volleybelles.