Even at the start of the Spikers’ Turf Collegiate Conference, former Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles team captain Ysrael Marasigan knew the plan.
“Sinabi naman ni coach [Oliver Almadro], ila-line up kita, pero andyan ka lang pag kailangan kita,” Marasigan said after the Blue Eagles swept the 2016 Spikers Turf Collegiate Conference.
As Marasigan has exhausted his playing years for Ateneo, he has continued to help develop the younger batch of Blue Eagles during the recently concluded conference.
“Part din yun para na-expose yung mga bata para sa UAAP. Most of our opponents dito UAAP teams,” he added.
And now that Ateneo have successfully defended their title, Marasigan is proud of his underclassmen.
“Sobrang saya kasi I know naman na I’m not part of the team na,” he shared.
“I’m happy to see them grow as a team, as individual persons, as individual players. Sobrang magandang ano na yun sa kin.”
As the UAAP 78 Finals MVP played his swan song for the Blue Eagles, he left some choice words for his second family.
“Siguro more on sacrifices lang. Mas mahirap pa yung gagawin nila sa papalapit na UAAP,” the 21-year-old concluded.
“Tiyagain lang nila.”
He may be leaving the Blue Eagles, but Marasigan is happy to leave them in good spirits and, more importantly, in good hands.