Under the Ateneo de Manila University’s new head coach Oliver Almadro, one of the biggest talking points has been a focus on specific roles for every Lady Eagle.
Among the specified roles are for the team’s seniors. Maddie Madayag, Bea De Leon, Kim Gequillana, and Kat Tolentino each share the responsibility of leading the team with designations that fit their personality.
“I am delegating the load kay Bea at kay Maddie. Si Kim soft spoken siya pero I’m training her how to be outspoken. Kailangan niya magsalita nang mabuti,” Almadro explained after Ateneo-Motolite escaped the Tacloban Fighting Warays, Wednesday evening.
“I really admire Bea and Maddie’s trust with each other now, so I really delegate the leadership sa kanila talaga. Maddie will be a role model sa team – ate eh. Bea will be my anchor sa intensity. Si Kim ‘yung soft spoken na mage-explain sa teammates. Si Kat, siya ‘yung ‘sige akin na ‘yan’.”
Graduating middle blocker De Leon shed further light on her relationship with her fellow seniors and how they lead as a unit.
“Kasi talaga ‘yung totoong setup is Maddie’s ‘yun nga, ‘yung ate, the team captain. Ako, I’m the game captain on the court. She stays in the dorm and alaga niya talaga ‘yung mga bata. Everyone goes through her. She’s very strict, very forward,” De Leon said of batchmate Madayag.
“We kind of play good cop, bad cop. That’s how they define us. It really works out. Kapag wala siya, medyo loose. Kapag wala ako, medyo strict. It balances out. Siguro more on-court talaga ako kasi my role is to really motivate the girls and encourage them,” she added.
“Maddie overlooks everything, makes sure everything’s going the right way para ‘di na ma-stress ‘yung ibang tao. Kim is like our glue. She keeps it together, very calm, very mature. ‘Pag nagsalita siya, alam mong you have to do something kasi she doesn’t speak a lot nga. Coach calls Kat our scoring machine. She’s our go-to. Siyempre, kailangan may isa sa team na kapag nagkakapitpitan, that’s where Kat comes in. Kumbaga, siya ‘yung sure point mo.”
Having defined roles on the team gives each player – especially the seniors – a sense of accountability for the team’s chemistry and overall performance.
“(Everything’s) A lot easier. We really appreciate Coach O delegating all of it kasi, as seniors, hindi mo kailangan isipin lahat kasi alam mo ‘yung role mo,” she expressed.
“We help each other, but, at the same time, may accountability kapag hindi mo ginawa ‘yung part mo. ‘Yun ‘yung very important.”
