WHEN the winds blow cold and the sky is overcast, it can only mean one thing for sports fans, especially die-hards of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP). It’s volleyball season.
February, marked by the reign of the cold-blowing northeast monsoon (more popularly known as hanging amihan) signals the start of the blockbuster “second-sem sports” of the UAAP—volleyball and football, together with fencing, chess, tennis, softball, baseball and the second round of juniors basketball. Street dance provides more excitement, eye candy and spectator perks.
Among all these, volleyball is the monster sport. The volleyball crowds are humongous and manic in their following and devotion. Women’s volleyball, in particular, hauls in loads of fans that are not students or alumni of the eight UAAP schools. Volleyball is the new queen of the scene and the darling of arena TV and online fans.
UAAP volleyball Season 80 just started last weekend. Did you notice what’s new? Here are five things that make this season fresh and exciting.
- Men’s volleyball on TV—For the first time since the sport was televised in Season 69, Men’s Volleyball is on TV. The men’s version of the game—originally called “mintonette” because it was similar to badminton—is played beginning 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday and not televised. This season, due to popular demand from those who want a piece of the hard-hitting men’s action, as well, the men’s volleyball games can also be enjoyed over ABS-CBN Sports + Action.
- Rookies, rookies, rookies—Volleyball stars rise and shine, and then they graduate. In their place, baby stars make their first appearance and add their own twinkle. There are 21 rookies this season in UAAP volleyball, with Ateneo de Manila and the University of the Philippines (UP) having the most newbies (five each), followed by University of Santo Tomas (four), University of the East (three), and Adamson (two). De La Salle University and Far Eastern University have one apiece.
For the record, here are their names: Syd Eleazar, Bettina Abella, Ann Basa, Dani Ravena and Cacee Geqjuillana (Ateneo); Cynthia Liclican, Josette Thai, Patricia Elise Siao, Abby Lim and Roselyn Rosier (UP); Milena Alessandrini, Ma. Cecilia Bangad, Jessie Lyn Camaligan, Catherine Pollentes (UST); Isabelle Camama, Remcel Santos, Mialyn Manabat (UE); Chiara Permentilla, Lea Ann Perez (AdU); Roven Andrea Instrella (DLSU) and Marianne Marie Calinawan (FEU).
- New coaches—You know it’s a new season when there’s a change of top personnel in a team or two. Or three. Three teams now sport new bench bosses. National University’s erstwhile mentor Roger Gorayeb has been replaced by perky Raymund “Babes” Castillo, the juniors coach who brought his girls to three juniors volleyball crowns. Prior to the season, the NU WVT coaching job went through some controversy that involved Gorayeb and Castillo. But the guns are silent now and Babes and team have conquered their first opponent, the Lady Tigers. “I am honored to lead the women’s team but it is a very big responsibility,” the affable coach acknowledged.
On the FEU bench, George Pascua, ex-coach of the Cignal team in the Super Liga and Lady Realtors coach in the Premier Volleyball League, is the anointed one to take over Coach Shaq de los Santos’s position on the Tamaraw’s ladies’ team. Both Pascua and de los Santos are products and standouts of the FEU volleyball program. Coach George, who celebrated his 46th birthday on February 5, got an early birthday gift last Sunday when his Lady Tamaraws led by Bernadeth Pons defeated their “big one”, the Ateneo Lady Eagles. “This is a big start for us,” Coach George said in the post-game interview.
Over in Diliman, a Kenyan coach from Japan who sports Stevie Wonder-like hair, is the new head coach of the UP Lady Fighting Maroons. He and his players have some short but meaningful history together, as he was the one who reportedly trained them when the team flew to Japan for a volleyball camp in Season 79. Godfrey Okumu, who played for the Kenya national team and other volleyball clubs before he relocated to Japan, said he is trying to improve the team’s speed, power and accuracy, with special focus on aggressive defense and “passing, passing, passing.” The new coach is going to be deeply immersed in UP culture because he is also taking his masters at UP’s Technology Management Center. From the looks of it, he has brought a whole new culture to the team as well from training to diet to very good communication with his players. Watch out for the players’ high-fives, dabs and salutes with their new coach.
- New looks—On the lifestyle side, hope you noticed the new looks among both players and coaches on the teams. Check out the ombre hair color on the Lady Maroons and UE Lady Warrior Shaya Adorador; the new lighter silhouettes of Tots Carlos of UP and May Luna of De La Salle; the longer hair of UE’s Selle Baliton, Ponggay Gaston’s pixie hair-do; Judith Abil’s Pukka hairstyle and Coach Air Padda’s shorter bob. Of course, the team uniforms have leveled up, too. But you’ve got to watch the games live to really appreciate the little details on them that make them true fashion statements.
- The first 3-on-3 tournament—This isn’t really volleyball, but the news was announced during volleyball season. The league’s first exhibition 3-on-3 will be played at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall on March 4. Each team will field four players each to compete in this fast-paced, more kinetic, more challenging version of basketball. First team to score 21, or who leads after 10 minutes wins the game.
C’mon admit it. It’s an exciting UAAP Season 80 filled with interesting surprises.