Contrary to initial reports, Ateneo de Manila University players had not been given invitations for the special tryouts for collegiate players held last March 12, according to team officials.
Team officials Ricky Palou and Tony Boy Liao denied statements from National Team head coach Francis Vicente that Ateneo players had been handed special invitations for the Sunday tryouts.
“The players said they didn’t get any, and if the athletics office got the invitation, they would have asked the players also, di ba?,” Palou said.
Still, Lady Eagles stalwarts Kat Tolentino and Maddie Madayag made the 25-woman pool.
“They [Tolentino and Madayag] were surprised, ‘We’re in the pool? We didn’t even try out. How can we be in the pool?'” Palou recalled.
Liao thinks the pair had been invited for the U23 team that will compete in Thailand on May 13-21. However, making the final cut for the 12-woman squad that will compete in the SEA Games and AVC Seniors tournament in August is another story.
“Sa tingin ko, hindi mala-line up yan [for the Seniors team]. Kasi if we will look at the yung sinasabi nila. They are good for Under-23. So I think talagang gagamitin nila yan for Under-23. Yun ang feeling ko. Hindi nag-tryout tapos sabi bata nga daw, good for Under-23. Doon ila-line-up yan. Marami namang malalaki. Sinasabi ni Francis na gusto niya malalaki, meron namang taller than them,” Liao said.
“Ako sa tingin ko, sasali yun [sa training]. Kasi siyempre kahit naman sino siguro, pag inimbita ka to play for the national team, bakit ka naman aayaw? Sasali at sasali yan. ‘Yun na nga, wala naman kaming nakuhang imbitasyon.”
Palou and Liao agree that the Lady Eagles might not join the National Team buildup with the on-going UAAP season. If Ateneo make a run to the UAAP Finals, Madayag and Tolentino might be available by May.
“Kami definitely, we won’t allow them, lalo na if mag-Finals kami. We’re leading, number one. Kung mag-Finals kami, kawawa naman ang mga players namin. So yun ang iintayin namin ngayon, kung saan kami malalagay,” Liao recalled.
“Definitely makakasali lang yan after the UAAP. Si Coach Tai [Bundit], ang training sa Ateneo twice-a-day rin. So mamamatay ang mga players namin pag mag-training pa sa pool ng twice a day. Hindi pa natin alam kung ano ang oras ng training nyan. Ang training namin is umaga at gabi. Kung magte-training yan ng umaga na alas-nuwebe tapos hapon na alas-tres, mamamatay na ang player namin.”
For now, Liao urges everyone to support the players who made the cut.
“Wala namang masama doon sa ginawang 25 team members eh. Sieympre, kung sino man ang nandun, kailangan suportahan natin. Ang daming nagsasabi na dapat si ganito ang kasama diyan, dapat si ganito. Eh opinion niyo yan. Sila [coaching staff] ‘yun ang opinion nila,” he added.
