Ateneo has paid homage to its outgoing team captain Dani Ravena heading into the stepladder series against University of Santo Tomas which kicks off Tuesday, June 14.
The Blue Eagles overcame all the odds in the elimination round to make its return trip to the Final Four, their 11th straight time since Season 71.
READ: Ateneo sweeps Adamson, clinches last Final Four slot
Trusting each other and the process has been the basic instruction of head coach Oliver Almadro to her wards, led by main gunner Faith Nisperos.
Almadro expressed glee that Ateneo clawed its way back despite a slow start in the first round through total team effort and equal contribution.
And add Ravena, who suits up as captain-libero, as one of the Eagles' motivations to put everything at stake in the post-season.
"I guess, we're here not because of one player, two players, three players. It's because all of them contributed to our momentum in gaining this Final Four spot," said Almadro.
"And of course, motivation namin to extend Dani every day," added the three-time UAAP champion.
Nisperos, for her part, continues to go all-out -- hopefully to reach the Finals -- as a "parting gift" for Ravena.
"It's added motivation," said Nisperos, who emerged as the second top scorer trailing Eya Laure of UST. "To add fuel to the fire. So yes, isang malaking motivation 'yon para sa amin."
Dani, daughter of PBA great Bong Ravena and former volleyball star Mozzy Crisologo-Ravena, is playing her final season in the UAAP since her Season 79 debut in 2017.