Beyond on-court lapses and inconsistent performances, one major factor has kept Ateneo de Manila University from breaking through in the highly competitive UAAP men’s volleyball scene.
For third-year spiker Kennedy Batas, the Blue Eagles’ inability to reach the Final Four in Seasons 85 and 86 — finishing fifth in both campaigns — stemmed from a lack of solid character and mental fortitude, both on and off the court.
“In the first two years ko sa Ateneo, yung nanotice ko lang na sobrang lack namin sa solid character and attitude inside the court, na eventually, naaapektuhan yung mindset namin off the court,” Batas remarked.
Determined to learn from its past struggles, Ateneo is hitting its stride at the right time in Season 87. Their resurgence has been fueled by key players such as MVP frontrunner Batas, Jian Salarzon, team captain Lance de Castro, and setter Lorenzo Gutierrez.
With a 6-3 win-loss record placing them at solo third, Batas emphasized how instrumental Ateneo’s sports psychologists — former Ateneo women’s football player Cam Rodriguez and former women’s fencer Juju Joseph — have been in sharpening the team’s mental resilience for a deep postseason run.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“Sobrang helpful sila kasi nama-manage namin yung pressure at yung expectation, and then yung pagod — mentally and emotionally. Lagi nga tinuturo ng mga sports psychologist namin na you really have to hinga lang talaga and smile. Embrace mo lang yung pressure kasi pressure makes you [a] diamond,” Batas shared with Tiebreaker Times after the Blue Eagles’ four-set victory over the Adamson Soaring Falcons on Saturday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
“Ngayon, especially na meron kaming sports psychologist, I think everyone is mature na and we’re ready kung sinoman yung kakaharapin namin na mga teams.”
His on-court brilliance may be driven by the heartbreak of the past two UAAP seasons, but Batas insists that his stellar play would not be possible without the “swagfest” he brings to every match.
Rodriguez and Joseph’s philosophy — that self-expression on the court is key to unlocking true strength — has greatly influenced Batas’ emergence as one of the top players in a talent-laden UAAP men’s volleyball field, which includes FEU’s Mikko Espartero, La Salle’s Noel Kampton, and NU’s Michaelo Buddin, among others.
“Sabi nga ng psychologist namin before, for you to be able to play very well, you really have to show yourself. Kasi pag pinapakita mo kung sino ka, I believe, makakapaglaro ka nang maayos at magaan kasi hindi mo tinatago yung emotions mo. Mas mabigat sa feeling kasi pag tinatago mo yung emotions mo,” shared the University of La Salette alum.
“‘Yon yung way ko para to express myself.”
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
With immense pressure resting on Batas’ shoulders to lead Ateneo in its push for a first Final Four appearance since Season 81 in 2019 — while also topping the MVP race — the presence of the Blue Eagles’ sports psychologists has become invaluable.
When the weight of expectations becomes overwhelming, Rodriguez and Joseph constantly remind the 23-year-old opposite spiker to focus on the present and trust the process.
“Sabi nga nila, pressure makes you [a] diamond talaga. ‘Yon yung sinabi ko sa sarili ko na huwag mo masyado isipin ‘yon, focus ka muna sa harap mo at kung ano ginagawa mo in the present, and then everything else will follow.”
#WATCH: Ken Batas shares how ‘swag’ fuels their game, helping them channel emotions on the court
@justinvalencia_ /Tiebreaker Times#UAAPSeason87 pic.twitter.com/zm67MoifQp
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) March 29, 2025
