THE SAN BEDA Lady Red Spikers opened their 2024 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Pre-Season Championship campaign with a 25-22, 25-20, 21-25, 21-25, 7-15 reverse sweep defeat at the hands of the Ateneo De Manila University (ADMU) Blue Eagles last September 28 at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.  

National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Season 99 Rookie of the Year and Best Open Spiker Angel Habacon led the Lady Red Spikers with 14 points from 12 attacks and two service aces. Janelle Bachar and Christine Joy Apan contributed nine and six points to the scoring column, respectively.  

The Lady Red Spikers started the first set emphatically, leading the Blue Eagles 8-2 into the first technical timeout. Maintaining their momentum, the Mendiola-based volleybelles kept a 16-11 advantage heading to the second technical timeout.  

Despite a gutsy Ateneo performance to close the first set and 12 errors from the Red and White, the Lady Red Spikers clawed out a 25-22 first-set victory from 10 attack points, two blocks, seven service aces, and six opponent errors led by Habacon and Rianne Bedural, who scored five points apiece.  

Outside hitter Chynna Castillo’s five-point burst powered the Lady Red Spikers to a 25-20 set win, capitalizing on 12 attack points, two blocks, two aces, and nine opponent errors, inching closer to a sweep at 2-0. 

Determined to close out the game, the Lady Red Spikers led the third set 8-7 from the get-go. However, the Lady Red Spikers failed to close the game in a sweep as the resurgent Blue Eagles pulled ahead with 14 attack points, 21-25.  

The tides shifted towards the Blue Eagles, as the fourth set saw another double-digit error skid from the Lady Red Spikers and an inspired offensive from the Blue and White to open the fourth set at 4-8.  

Momentum stayed on the side of the Blue Eagles, as more errors from the Lady Red Spikers kept them at a five-point deficit, 11-16, in the second technical timeout. 

Former rivals exchanged runs throughout the remainder of the set, with the Mendiola spikers rallying for five unanswered points to snatch the lead. However, the Blue Eagles answered with an eruption of their own, scoring five straight points to take the fourth set, 21-25.  

Heading into the courtside change, the Lady Red Spikers were held to two points at a 2-8 disadvantage. From then on, the error-prone Lady Red Spikers struggled to contain the Blue Eagles’ pummeling offense, ending the fifth set at 7-15 and losing the match at 2-3 sets. 

An inspired and emotional Habacon stated that the team “has the individual skills” to match up with teams such as Ateneo, but later emphasized the need for “improved maturity inside the court” as a response to the manner of defeat experienced in the game.  
She later compared the match to a final-four experience, stating, “parang pang final-four na siguro ‘yun, for me kasi, as we all know, Ateneo is a UAAP school.”  

 “I’m amazed kasi ‘di naman natin ine-expect na mag lalaro sila nang maganda pero ang isang problema ay wala pa rin tayong panapos” were the immediate reactions of head coach Edgar Barroga after the reverse sweep defeat.  

He exclaimed that doubts within the team were still present, but he shared his early thoughts on the team’s readiness for the upcoming NCAA Season 100. “In preparations sa [NCAA] season 100… I should say medyo ready na tayo and medyo kailangan lang talaga ‘yung mental toughness… ma-apply kasi ‘yun lang bumigay kanina.”  

Down 0-1 in Pool A, the Lady Red Spikers look to gain their first win against NCAA foes Arellano University (AU) on Friday, October 4 at 3:30 p.m. at the same venue.  

Set scores:  
 
San Beda – Ateneo: 25-22, 25-20, 21-25, 21-25, 7-15 
 
Box scores: 
 
San Beda (2): Habacon 14, Bachar 10, Apan 9, Molina 7, Castillo 6, Bedural 5, Cagalawan 4, Navarro 3, Canete 3, Bernal 1, Campos 1 
 
Ateneo (3): De Guzman 17, Delos Santos 12, Tsunashima 11, Pacia 8, Miner 4, Sulit 3, Fujimoto 3, Buena 3, Selga 2, Nisperos 1, Chuatico 1