The Ateneo volleyball program enters the new UAAP season with a renewed focus on believing in one’s abilities, guided by the influence of an Ateneo legend from a different sport.
Camille Rodriguez began her journey as a mental performance coach for the Blue Eagles, starting with the women’s football team in UAAP Season 86.
Since then, her role has expanded to include other teams, such as the men’s volleyball team.
The 2022 AFF Women’s Championship gold medalist is taking the shift to heart, with support from former Blue Eagle fencer and the team’s sports psychologist, Juju Joseph.
The pair’s efforts have already shown promise, especially after a victorious debut against Adamson University on Sunday.
“I’m very grateful and proud to be here; I’m so happy for the boys, and I’m proud of how they performed,” said the 30-year-old midfielder from Zamboanga City.
“I think my work with the women’s football team led me here. And with the trust of the Athletics Office and my partner Juju (Joseph), my fellow sports psych coach, we’ll try to help the team create a new culture and a new identity for this season.”
The Blue Eagles are one of the most intact teams this season, with many key holdovers such as libero and team captain Lance De Castro, wingers Amil Pacinio, Ken Batas, and Jian Salarzon, and middle blocker Jett Gopio.
However, with former assistant coach Vince Mangulabnan now at the helm, it’s still essential to keep everyone on the same page.
For Rodriguez, she believes the team’s openness makes this task easier.
“I think it helped that everyone was really open. Open lang lahat and willing na matuto and to learn mula sa isa’t isa. Napapadali ‘yung trabaho ko, napapadali ‘yung trabaho naming isa’t isa,” said the UAAP Season 77 Best Striker.
She explained, “Coach Vince is a very collaborative coach. Ang laki ng tiwala niya sa ginagawa naming ni Ju, at kami rin ang laki ng tiwala namin sa kanya. And that trust between coaches translates to the team also — that we’re building trust together as a new team talaga.”
Rodriguez, who has lived and breathed football all her life, feels excited to learn the ins and outs of volleyball from the other coaches and the team.
And as an athlete who’s been there and done that for Ateneo, she’s more than willing to share her experiences with her fellow Blue Eagles.
“They make it easy for me. The boys and the team are so gracious in sharing their technical knowledge. So, it’s indeed a knowledge exchange. Tinturuan nila ko ng volleyball, ‘yung technical and tactical aspects,” the former national team player shared.
“And ako naman, tinuturo ko ‘yung mga alam ko as an athlete, knowing how to win, reacting to when you lose, and knowing how to just learn. So, talagang collaborative effort and openness lang from everyone.”
The 31st Southeast Asian Games bronze medalist has been preparing both the men’s and women’s volleyball teams for the tough grind ahead, starting with the simple steps of trust and belief.
She said, “We, me and Juju, prepared the team by just believing in them, believing in their capabilities na kaya nila. At alam naming ‘yon, at alam nila ‘yon. And allowing them to be present lang din, and to focus on that moment.”
“And alam naman natin ang volleyball, puntos talaga siya. And pagka tapos na ‘yung isang puntos, kailangan refocus ka ulit, reset,” she added.
With the season just beginning, Rodriguez and the rest of the Blue Eagles are looking ahead with a focused outlook on the journey.
“Our outlook, of course, is to win; to give ourselves the best possible chance to succeed. So that means doing our best every training, doing our very best every game. So far so good, and they’re really showing that. It was a very good start.”
