77 Highlights of UAAP Season 77 Volleyball Season (Part 1)

Exactly 7 days since the UAAP Volleyball season has ended. And yeah, we still have a hangover for such great season.

Here, we listed the highlights of Season 77 Volleyball Season.

1.  2 Peat for the Ateneo Lady Eagles. After sweeping the eliminations, the ALE took the back-to-back championship trophy after defeating the Galang-less DLSU Lady Spikers in 2 games, both in straight sets.
2. 16-0 record for the Ateneo Lady Eagles! This is first in UAAP history- sweeping the eliminations and sweeping the finals too. This team of Coach Tai Bundit just keeps on breaking records left and right.
3. First title for the Ateneo Blue Spikers! The men’s counterpart of the ALE has finally claimed their first ever UAAP Championship title after taking down the 3-peat seeking NU Bulldogs.
4. The fall of Ara Galang. The main gun of the DLSU Lady Spikers suffered a very nasty fall during the second game of the NU-DLSU stepladder series, resulting to multiple knee injuries and missing the finals series against the Ateneo Lady Eagles. Get well soon Ara!
5. Another injury for Camille Cruz. She experienced another nasty fall during the first game of the finals,resulting to multiple knee injuries. This is Camille’s third major knee injury. Get well soon Camille!
   
6.  Back-to-back MVPs! The blue phenoms, Alyssa Valdez and Marck Espejo bagged their second consecutive Season MVP awards after having a stellar season.
7. The fall of KB8! Just when the Lady Maroons is about to end the first round of eliminations in a high note, their middle blocker/hitter, Kathy Bersola suffered multiple injuries. Get well soon KB8!
8. The close race for the final 2 slots for the final four. It was a very tight race, 5 teams were gunning for the last 2 slots – NU, FEU, UST, UP and AdU.
9. The rise of the Lady Maroons. The LM stepped-up big time their game this season. They’re now a legit final 4 contender. Future looks so bright for these girls in maroon and green.
10. Dante Dela Cruz is out! After very disappointing performances of the Lady Bulldogs, NU finally axed Dela Cruz as their head coach right before the UAAP resumed after the holiday break.
11. Roger Gorayeb is back! After NU axed Dante Dela Cruz, they tapped Gorayeb’s experience to coach the Lady Bulldogs. And they made a great choice, the LB is back in the final four!
12. Coach Francis Vicente is back as UE Lady Warriors’ head coach. And yeah, his quotable quotes are back too.
    
13. Nicole Tiamzon is a revelation! After playing as setter in the last season, she is now the open hitter of the Lady Maroons, and damn girl can hit the ball hard!
14. Jemma Galanza stepped-up big time. After Bang Pineda’s departure from the Lady Falcons, Jemma Galanza took her spot in the starting line-up. And boy, this girl did not disappoint us.
15. And Mylene Paat is a revelation too.
16. Back-to-back awards for Alyssa Valdez. Aside from the back-to-back Seasons MVP award, she also took the Best Scorer and Best Server award.
17. Controversial ROY award. There were 2 recipients of the Rookie if the Year award, UE’s Arado and UST’s Laure. I know, something’s fishy.
18. Amazing rookies! Bea de Leon, Enajie Laure, Kathleen Arado, Ayel Estranero, Jewel Lai, Jho Maraguinot, Eli Soyud, Cherry Rondina, Toni Rose Basas, Hetter Guinoo, Jerelli Malaban, Marian Buitre, Jorelle Singh and more. The future of UAAP Volleyball looks so bright!
19. The 2 consecutive points, both coming from a drop ball of the setter Jia Morado that gave the Ateneo Lady Eagles their second Championship title! This girls got nerves of steel!
    
20. FEU-AdU ‘angasan’ on court. Lots of warnings were given on their 2 matches this season. Indeed, FEU-AdU game is not complete without the ‘angasan’.
21. UE Lady Warriors won their first ever set this season. If you have no idea about this team and this tournament, you would think it’s a championship game after UE’s reactions after winning a set against the FEU Lady Tamaraws. Their reactions were priceless!
22. Ateneo Lady Eagles’ comeback third set win against the UE Lady Warriors after being down for as much 12 points. It’s a must-watch!
23. UP-AdU first round match-up. It was a very tight 4-setter match, with the last 2 sets being extended to as much as 32-30 score (IIRC).
24. Bea de Leon injury. After playing great in the entire first round, she didn’t see action in the ALE’s 3 games due to index finger injury that she suffered during the training.
    
25. That Thing Called Tagahanga. That Thing Called Tadhana star, Angelica Panganiban showed her love and support for her idol, Alyssa Valdez in ALE’s big games. We even saw her wearing blue lipsticks. Haha. 

We will post the continuation of this post later..