By: Nicole Gonzales
With less than a month to prepare, the University of the East is simply grateful to be back in the girls’ volleyball tournament, hoping that this return will strengthen its volleyball program for the long haul.
In their comeback game in the division last Sunday at the newly renovated Ateneo Blue Eagle Gym, the Junior Lady Warriors fell short against the UPIS Fighting Maroons, 25-23, 25-11, 25-16.
Still, it was a moment of celebration for head coach Rod Roque.
“It feels so good to be back in the sport that I love, which is volleyball,” said Roque, a former UE representative to the UAAP Board of Managing Directors.
Roque, who previously coached both the Lady Warriors and the Junior Warriors, revealed that the team disbanded five seasons ago due to the pandemic. Now, their focus is on reviving the program.
“Noong bumalik kami, August 1 lang. So I told the management, please do not expect miracles, kasi a month and several days lang yung preparation,” Roque said.
“But still, ang ganda ng practice ng team. Hindi lumabas ngayon kasi first time nga nila talaga mag-compete, UAAP pa.”
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
None of the Junior Lady Warriors reached double digits in scoring, with team captain Janella Mangahis and Amanda Hermoso leading the way with five points apiece.
Composed of 14 young student-athletes, the squad experienced what Roque described as a “culture shock” in their UAAP return.
“We have to improve. Lagi kong sinasabi sa kanila [student-athletes], ‘We don’t intend to win, but we should give them a good fight, at least lumaban tayo. Then masasabi natin sa sarili natin, we did our best,’” said Roque.
As the Junior Lady Warriors got their first taste of UAAP action, Roque reflected on the experience of his team donning the red and white once more.
“Hopefully natuto sila dito. ‘Yun pala yung venue, ‘yun pala yung atmosphere,’ kasi nagulat sila, may mga drums pa kanina, first time. So I hope, lesson [is] learned and that they will try to improve [in the] next game,” he said.
Despite the limited preparation, this season marks a long-term project for UE’s girls’ volleyball program.
“To revive ‘yung girls team and ultimately ang goal nila [UE management] ay para magkaroon ng farm team ‘yung college team. So we hope to do better next time,” Roque said.
