Perpetual Altas head coach Sammy Acaylar shed light on Kennry Malinis’ alleged transfer to De La Salle University, Wednesday.
And the former Men’s National Volleyball Team mentor did not mince his words.
In a story first reported by Philippine Star’s Joey Villar, Acaylar reported removed Malinis — who is about to enter his second year with the Altas — from the program after learning that the promising spiker is on his way to Taft without his consent.
When he tried to reach out to Malinis and ask him about the transfer rumors through their team group chat, Malinis left him on seen, which irked Acaylar even more.
“Siyempre ‘di mo maaalis na masama ang loob ko sa kanya, pero hinahayaan ko na lang. ‘Yung mga coaches ko, ‘yung mga players ko, isa lang ang sinabi nila sa akin, ‘Coach, inalagaan mo ‘yan, ‘di mo pinabayaan ‘yan pati ang magulang niya. Hayaan mo na baka hindi siya satisfied’,” Acaylar told Tiebreaker TImes.
“After a while, ‘yung magulang niya nag-message sa akin. Sabi nila, hindi niya akalain, hindi niya alam na ang anak niya ay lumipat na. Hindi niya alam kasi ang anak niya hindi nag-stay sa kanila… ‘Pag tinatanong nila, ngumingisi lang daw at ‘secret’ ang sinasagot.”
This is the second time that the program has had to remove Malinis from the roster. Before the implementation of enhanced community quarantine back in March, the outspoken mentor found out that Malinis received failing marks in some of his courses.
The 60-year-old coach informed Malinis that he would no longer be part of the Altas. Malinis’ parents then reached out to Acaylar and begged to give him another chance.
“Before mag-lockdown, lahat ng mga players ko is chineck ko ‘yung pag-aaral nila. Si Kennry ay bagsak, so what I did is dahil nga sa nagbawas kami ng players e, kasama siya sa nabawas,” reveled Acaylar.
“Ngayon, ‘yung parents ni Kennry in communication kami e… Tumawag sa’kin ang magulang niya, nakiusap na ‘yung anak niya ay bigyan ko ng chance kasi ang rule ko is ‘pag bumagsak ka, tatanggalin kita’. Ngayon nakiusap ang magulang niya, so binalik ko si Kennry. So dahil may maganda nga kaming relationship ng magulang kasi inalagaan ko nga si Kennry, binalik ko.”
It then shocked Acaylar when he learned the news, knowing that Malinis remained enrolled in Perpetual. But what hurt him even more was the fact that he was the one responsible for bringing the CESAFI Boys’ Volleyball MVP from Cebu to Manila.
Seeing Malinis’ potential, Acaylar arranged the 19-year-old’s transfer to the Las Piñas-based school. But the move hit a few roadblocks, as Malinis had six failing subjects that he had to finish first before suiting up for Perpetual.
Dead-set on securing the young spiker’s services, Acaylar enrolled Malinis in a different school, which he paid for, to finish his requirements.
“Hindi ko naman siya pipigilan kung saan niya gusto pumunta, pero the fact is naka-enroll siya at hindi ‘man lang siya nag paalam sa akin… Ang hindi ko lang gusto hindi siya nagpaalam. Wala siyang respeto sa Perpetual at sa team niya,” said Acaylar.
Malinis first suited up for Perpetual in the 2019 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference. He eventually made his debut in the NCAA Season 95.
The Altas swept the entire elimination round, which gave them an outright berth to the Finals. The school’s quest for a three-peat was then left on hold as the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic forced the league to cancel the season.
Malinis has remained mum on the matter.
