In his budding volleyball career, Kennedy Batas finally realized one of his longtime aspirations — making an impact in his debut for Alas Pilipinas Men during a three-day pocket tournament against Jakarta Bhayangkara Presisi.
The wait was well worth it for the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Volleyball MVP, as Batas delivered three of the team’s last eight points to seal a thrilling 25-23, 27-29, 25-21, 25-22 victory over the back-to-back champions of Indonesia’s Proliga on Wednesday evening at the SMART Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
With starting outside hitter Buds Buddin sidelined by cramps, head coach Angiolino Frigoni turned to Batas — who had not seen any action prior — to step in at the 17-16 mark of the fourth set.
The 23-year-old outside hitter immediately made his presence felt, hammering down his first-ever attack as a member of the Nationals. He followed it up with another spike and a kill block that pushed Alas Pilipinas to a 24-22 lead, ultimately securing the morale-boosting win to open the Invitational series.
“Sobrang saya kasi representing the country is really a privilege and hindi makukuha na basta-basta ‘yon… Siguro yung mga natutunan ko in the past few weeks sa kanila, sa mga coaches. ‘Yon lang in-apply ko. Sobrang excited ako kasi first time ko ito and then, naging ready lang ako, always ready ang queen,” Batas told reporters.
“I would say na ready naman ako, pero ‘ayon nga international ito. But then again, sobrang nakakaproud talaga. Yung moment na ‘yon, it was like floating in the air. In-eembrace ko lang lahat ng nangyayari,” he added.
Batas shared that his immediate impact wouldn’t have been possible without the unwavering support of fellow UAAP MVPs — two-time MVP Josh Ybañez and Ateneo legend Marck Espejo.
Beyond national pride, Batas takes even greater pride in raising the flag for LGBTQIA+ athletes like himself and Ybañez on the international stage.
When it comes to carrying the Atenean banner alongside the national team, Batas is savoring every opportunity to learn from Espejo — the five-time UAAP MVP who last earned the title before the Santiago, Isabela native claimed it in Season 87.
“Sobrang exciting siya kasi alam ko na supportahan lang. Alam ko na may mga experience na yung iba and then nung pumasok ako sa loob ng court, laruin ko lang daw yung laro ko. Ayon, nag-taray,” Batas shared with a smile.
Looking ahead, Batas hopes to broaden his skillset in preparation for two major goals: contributing to Alas Pilipinas Men’s campaign in the 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship and leading the Ateneo Blue Eagles in their buildup to UAAP Season 88.
Following his MVP triumph on May 14, Batas announced his decision to pursue a master’s program, allowing him to maximize his final two years of eligibility with the Blue Eagles.
“With Alas, siguro this is my opportunity to gain more experience and knowledge about volleyball na pwede ko i-share sa mga teammates ko and sa mga bata,” he concluded.
#WATCH: Josh Ybanez and Kennedy Batas open up about the strong ‘sisterhood’ they have that powers their bond in Alas Men 🇵🇭 🏐
📹 Ernest Tuazon/Tiebreaker Times#Sambansa #AlasInvitationals pic.twitter.com/g7JrOyfyng
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) June 10, 2025
