Ateneo head coach Oliver Almadro couldn't be more proud of his wards despite falling short of its Cinderella run in the UAAP Season 84 women's volleyball stepladder.
After surviving a knockout game and the first stage of the stepladder, the Blue Eagles lost steam and absorbed a 25-19, 25-20, 25-23 sweep at the hands of rivals De La Salle Lady Spikers Thursday night, June 16 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
"I'm so happy and proud of my team. Although we lost today, I guess this is not yet the right time for us," said Almadro.
It wasn't a walk in the park before the Eagles managed to reach the Final Four, their 11th straight appearance since Season 71.
Ateneo started slow early in the season with a 0-3 record in the first round of the elimination before finally finding its groove and bouncing back midway through the tournament.
The reigning champion also had several encounters with the already ran Adamson, which finished fifth overall. The Eagles, however, had the last laugh in the playoff game last June 11.
Ateneo moved up in the stepladder as it repeated its mastery over third-seeded squad University of Santo Tomas.
Almadro, however, cited that recovery had already taken a toll on her team after surviving the past couple of adversities just to make it into the Final Four.
"We really managed it pero talagang the other teams are well-rested, they are well-coached. They are an intact team, they are a great team and they really pushed us forward but we couldn't make it," said the three-time UAAP champion coach.
Still, Almadro, who steered the Ateneo women's volleyball team to a championship in Season 80, never wavered and kept the faith with the huge help coming from her main gunner in -- interestingly -- Faith Nisperos.
"'Di namin tinuloy na magkaroon kami ng doubt. We fought. 'Yong resiliency ng mga players ko 'di ko matatawaran," said Almadro, who was also a three-time UAAP champion coach in the men's division.
"Coming into this match, I guess my players did their best. Nag-matter lang talaga 'yong other team is well-rested and really prepared for us. Nagmatch-up sila nang maayos with our team so hats of to La Salle and, of course, sa mga players ko. I'm really proud of my players."