Over the past few years, Ateneo de Manila University has shed its doormat status in UAAP men's volleyball, emerging as one of the strongest teams. This transformation began with the entry of AJ Pareja, Timothy Sto. Tomas, and Duane Teves, followed by the additions of Marck Espejo, Ysay Marasigan, and Rex Intal.
With Jian Salarzon and Ken Batas making their mark in the UAAP last season, prospects were looking up for the Blue Eagles—or so it seemed. However, the young squad encountered difficulties in the second round and, for the first time since Season 75, missed out on a Final Four berth.
This disappointment serves as the primary motivation for Ateneo as they embark on their campaign in this collegiate volleyball season, starting with the V-League, as Batas shared. "We really need to bounce back because, in recent years, Ateneo has consistently been at the top—either winning championships or at least reaching the Final Four. That was my main motivation: to restore Ateneo to its former glory," said the opposite hitter.
Batas and the rest of the Blue Eagles clearly demonstrated their determination. There's no better way to begin the journey toward redemption than with a straight-set sweep of their usual UAAP Finals rival, the reigning V-League and UAAP champion National University. The senior wing spiker finished with 17 points, comprising 14 attacks, two blocks, and a service ace, leading the squad to a resounding 25-23, 26-24, 25-9 victory over the Bulldogs. For him, taking the lead is a matter of determination to assist the team.
"Now that our seniors have moved on, and we are now the seniors, we feel the need to step up and guide our rookies. I believe our maturity and teamwork are strong assets. While we experienced a loss due to impatience at one point, in the end, we had to move on and focus on the upcoming games," admitted the native of Santiago City.
Batas also emphasized the importance of sticking to their core system and training principles, ensuring that they execute their strategies effectively on the court. "During the loss against UST, we were impatient and rushed things. However, we must always adhere to our core system to achieve the best results on the court."
