UAAP: UE addresses release of players, sponsor exit

UE Lady Warriors in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — The University of the East on Saturday responded to reports surrounding its women’s volleyball team.

In a statement, the school explained why several players from the team were released and confirmed that the team’s main backer Strong Group Athletics (SGA) “chose not to renew its sponsorship for Season 88” after the contract expired in May.

READ: UAAP: UE Lady Warriors move past heartbreaking exodus of players

“Unfortunately, much of the information being circulated is inaccurate. As such, in the interest of transparency and accountability, we find it necessary to clarify the matter and set the record straight,” the school wrote.

“One key point that requires clarification is the change in sponsorship and its implication for the team’s composition and leadership. The former sponsor of the UE Women’s Volleyball Team, who supported the team during UAAP Season 87, chose not to renew its sponsorship for Season 88. As part of the conclusion of this sponsorship, the coaching staff who were under the sponsor’s support also ended their tenure with the team.”

UE’s Physical Education (PE) Department has since appointed new coaches, who then held an open tryout “to evaluate all potential players.”

According to UE Dawn, the school’s official publication, on Thursday several players, including those who were graduating, were “unexpectedly” cut from the team.

UE said the decision to part ways with the players was a result of its “long-standing policy of conducting a tryout at the end of every season in preparation for the next one.”

READ: UAAP: Casiey Dongallo, Jelai Gajero leave UE, transfer to UP

“In line with this policy, despite the team’s underperformance in previous seasons, all incumbent players were given the same opportunity and due process to participate in the try-out alongside new aspirants,” the school said.

“As a result of this rigorous and merit-based selection process, several former players were not retained for Season 88. While this may be disappointing for those affected, it is a natural outcome of a competitive and transparent selection process under new leadership.”

Former UE interim coach Allan Mendoza, who left the team after SGA’s contract had expired, shared that Khy Cepada, Angelica Reyes, Van Bangayan, and Bea Zamudio were the only holdovers retained.

Mendoza claimed he and the team suffered “mistreatment” from the management even before Season 87, where they ended up winless in 14 games.

“For me, it is the real thing talaga kasi yun ang naging experience ko sa kanila. It was the time na bago kami magsimula, nakaexperience ako sa kanila ng talagang mental torture at na-trauma kami lahat. Even the players and coaches,” Mendoza told Inquirer Sports in a phone interview on Saturday.

“Kung inaccurate ang sinasabi ko, kung hindi ko yun na-experience but ako gagawa ng kwento just for the sake of publicity. E ako kaya ko bumalik kung saan ako galing. I’m a licensed professional teacher. I can teach in the grassroots. Hindi ko kailangan yan. Kaya lang ako nagsalita. It’s because naawa ako sa mga bata na nanindigan lang at tumayo sa tama and then all of a sudden biglang madadamay, gusto lang naman nilang mapabuti at gusto lang naman nilang maging maayos ang kanilang sistema.”

Mendoza, who replaced Dr. Obet Vital and is now with University of the Philippines, added that the departure of Casiey Dongallo and other prized recruits from UE last January solidifies his statements.

“Kung itatanggi nila yan, bakit umalis ang mga blue chip na recruits last December? It is because of the management din and that is the real thing,” he said.

Mendoza said that weeks before Season 87 started, the management allegedly insulted him, threw his appointment paper as the next UE coach, and didn’t grant their request for the Shakey’s Super League funds, which will be used for volleyballs, bags, water, and ice.

The UE coach even claimed that some of their injured players didn’t receive proper treatment.

Mendoza said he chose to stay silent during the season to keep the team focused on the tournament.

“Despite ng pinagdaanan namin still lalaban kami. Pero nakita din naman bumibigay kami at the end of the day. Just because we have a problem and issue na talagang every night talagang iniisip ng mga bata. Kakatapos lang 1st game namin, ang sinasabi ng mga bata, coach paano yan pag tinanggal talaga kami? Coach paano yan pag natalo talaga tayo? Or coach paano yan pag hindi tayo natin napataas ang rank natin last time so mawawalan kami ng scholarship?” he said. “Let’s focus muna sa nangyayari ng season 87. Let’s prove to them talagang kaya namin.”

UE reaffirmed its commitment to its student-athletes and thanked SGA for backing the team for the past two seasons.