A Promise Fulfilled
- "Bawi Niyo kami " -
--- A Nacachi to Marge Tejada --- March 6, 2013 --
I remember, as if it were just yesterday, when --- Amidst the Frenzy, Sobs, and Rivers of Tears the Ateneo Lady Eagles were shedding on court [that fateful afternoon of March 6, 2013 - just after the formidable Lady Archers, again swept them in the UAAP Finals - for the second straight year] -- Alysse Nacachi's painful plea to, then rookie, Marge Tejada "Bawi Niyo Kami" ...... to which Marge promptly replied with a [tearful] "yes".
Even then, as I overheard Nacachi uttering those pleas - {Twas, truth be told} - so totally far fetched [I was saying to myself..] - with the Fab Five finally done with their playing years and the DLSU Squad still intact ---Wishful Thinking - I thought - But, Hey!! --- As they say in the vernacular "Hindi Masamang Mangarap" ....
Fast, Fast, Fast forward to March 15 of 2014 ...... and Who Wouldda Thought about the outcome being so Dumbfounding !!, Certainly not me ! [I was expecting an NU-DLSU Finals Showdown] .... The Lady Eagles themselves have admitted taking a Final Four Slot a more realistic expectation for Ateneo - the team being "in the process of rebuilding and in transition".
Even then, as I overheard Nacachi uttering those pleas - {Twas, truth be told} - so totally far fetched [I was saying to myself..] - with the Fab Five finally done with their playing years and the DLSU Squad still intact ---Wishful Thinking - I thought - But, Hey!! --- As they say in the vernacular "Hindi Masamang Mangarap" ....
Fast, Fast, Fast forward to March 15 of 2014 ...... and Who Wouldda Thought about the outcome being so Dumbfounding !!, Certainly not me ! [I was expecting an NU-DLSU Finals Showdown] .... The Lady Eagles themselves have admitted taking a Final Four Slot a more realistic expectation for Ateneo - the team being "in the process of rebuilding and in transition".
The Hell !! - Look what happened !!! - Surviving three Playoff ["Win or Go Home"] matches, then Gutting it out in four Finals matches vs the"Invincible" DLSU 3-Peat Defending Champs - whilst sweeping Game 4 in Three Sets!!!
The Lady Eagles had simply Defied the Odds, Humbled their critics and the DLSU Community by staging one of the Greatest Upsets {EVER !!!} in UAAP Volleyball History. And along the way, Marge Tejada, with the help of the Lady Eagles - fulfilled a promise ... {Natupad na - Sagad na Sagad pa !!! }
PU - Tang Ina !!!
PU - Tang Ina !!!
[L->R] A Nacahi, Charo Soriano, Fille Cainglet, Gretchen Ho, Dzi Gervacio, and Jem Ferrer - on Cloud 9, at the very same locker room where they all endured very extremely heavy, humbling moments, {dude, I was there - sigh} as bridesmaids to a UAAP Crown, exactly a year and 9 days ago - to the date -> [March 6, 2013] ....
What follows below, are just private moments, in the MoA dugouts, of the Lady Eagles --- Candid ... Casual ... Light-hearted ... "Unwinding" moments ..... Nagchichikahan lang ... Recharging ... wala lang - Kaso, this time they are already the Newly Crowned Queens of College Volleyball ...
Mr. "M", Sherwin, Arthur, "Fr. Jet" , Debbie, and Philip
- all part of the AWVT Family
Eternal Gratitude - for Accomplishing a Mission [almost impossible]
undertaken - Years Ago
Deserved -> to the MAX !!
Di ba Den ??
Nawawala ang sakit ng injury !
-> Kantsawan Blues !!
Ateneo President Fr. "Jet" Villarin [nakantsawan ng katakot-takot - hahaha], Team Manager Mr. Tony Boy Lao, and Head Coach "Thai" Anusorn Bundit - had only words of Praise, Gratitude and Encouragement and Renewed Faith for the Very Deserving New Champs on the Block ....
Below are my last five shots of the Team Huddle, where Mr. Lao and Coach Thai said their parting words -for that evening- at least. [I decided to shoot from a chair].
... And as I exited the Lady Eagle dugout...
I snapped these two "pahabol" photos ...
and to end this post
Please allow me to quote a few [a super favorite among so many] lines
from a well-remembered commencement speech
JK Rowling gave at Harvard years ago .....
".... and for all that it is Painfully Won ..."
PS
Last photo {above} was taken late February.
At the Lady Eagle dugout, after the Knockout Win over Adamson - Lady Eagle Manager TBoy Lao requested Amy to show, then, - the prototype of the "Heart Strong" tee-shirt. Just Mere Words - at that time ....
But - Never, I say Never - in my wildest imaginings, could I have anticipated how these words would actually be LIVED in the next six games - I still, am at loss for words - { and that is just so F_____ Cool !!} at the Most Dramatic Fashion the Lady Eagles Defied the Odds to Truly Deserve a Championship for the Ages .....
The Lady Eagles' "Dream Run" to the UAAP Championship was more than a Sports story - it was a Human Interest Story - that we can all learn something from
PS
Still have to post my Ateneo fans' photos from that March 15 Bonfire !
I'm in no hurry, though -
Have some UFL Action Shots still waiting to be posted
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