Oliver Almadro is fully aware of the hefty task he is taking on as the new head coach of the Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles.
He also knows that having a crop of seniors can ease a team’s transition to a new coach, which is why he has already garnered commitments from two of Ateneo’s most important student-athletes.
Sunday afternoon, Almadro revealed that Ateneo’s UAAP Season 80 Women’s Volleyball co-captains Maddie Madayag and Kat Tolentino have both expressed their commitment for Season 81.
“Maddie will stay. Kat, I’m sure she’ll play,” Almadro told the media. “I had the meeting with the former players, the current roster, and the rookies coming in. Officially bakasyon sila dahil katatapos lang ng Finals. We will start siguro by June, start na right away.
“Nakaayos na ‘yung program namin na gagamitin for the Lady Eagles.”
However, Almadro is still working on getting middle blocker Bea De Leon to come back for her final playing year. De Leon recently finished her undergraduate degree along with best friend on the team, Jhoana Maraguinot, who had already admitted that she was forgoing her final playing year.
“Bea, I talked to her, I’m confident that she will play. You know naman Bea is ano, may pusong atleta ‘yan, so hindi papayag ‘yan ng basta-basta,” Almadro shared.
“So I’m sure with the guidance of Ateneo na binigay sa kanya, she’s a woman for others, so she will heed the call, I’m confident she will heed the call of the Ateneo community and the fans to consume her last playing year.”
