Credit where it’s due

A La Salle alumnus yesterday set the record straight on who was actually the Lady Spikers’ team manager when the Taft Avenue squad bagged a three-peat in the UAAP senior women’s volleyball championships from 2003-04 to 2004-05 to 2005-06.

“Let’s give credit where it’s due,” said the alumnus. “It was Popoy Juico who was the team manager, nobody else. Popoy was just appointed dean of the La Salle graduate school of business and Br. Rolly Dizon, then the university president, asked him to take care of the senior women’s volleyball team. After the first three-peat with Popoy, La Salle was suspended so there was no chance for a four-peat. Popoy later turned over the team management to Perry Uy and now, the team manager is Mikee Romero. In all, La Salle has won seven of the last 11 UAAP senior women’s volleyball titles, including two three-peats. During Popoy’s time, the Lady Spikers won 13 championships, including the University Games and the Shakey’s V League. We’ve also won UAAP championships with Perry and Mikee.”

Juico himself confirmed the sequence of events. “A few weeks after I became dean of the graduate school of business, Br. Rolly asked if I could take over the women’s volleyball team,” said Juico. “Br. Rolly was then president of the Philippine Amateur Volleyball Association, now the Philippine Volleyball Federation where I am chairman. Br. Rolly and Tony Boy (Liao) worked together at PAVA. Tony Boy has always loved volleyball. He was a supporter of our team and I always invited him to join in our activities.”

Gerry Achacoso, a La Salle alumnus involved in the school’s sports program, described Liao as a staunch backer of the Lady Spikers, spending his own money for uniforms, treats and others. “Tony Boy was a big help,” said Achacoso. “But he was never a team manager. He never signed the conforme letter to affirm any appointment. When Popoy was invited by Br. Rolly to be team manager, I spoke with Tony Boy and asked if he would like to be assistant team manager. I think he didn’t like the idea.” Before Juico came along, Liao acted as virtual team manager so the offer was like a demotion.

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Liao said he remembers Achacoso’s call. “I was supporting the team in my own way,” he said. “I never had a problem with Br. Rolly. I’m not claiming credit for anything. I don’t brag. I work behind the scenes. I was close with Br. Ceci Hojilla. When it didn’t seem like I was wanted at La Salle, I went to the other school.”

A La Salle alumnus said it appeared to be a bitter parting of ways because when Liao was the Shakey’s V League commissioner, he threatened to ban the Lady Spikers for life in the wake of declining to participate. “It was an invitational tournament so why couldn’t La Salle decline, is that fair?” continued the alumnus. “The Shakey’s V League is a money-maker and we play for free. The next year, we were invited again without anyone apologizing for the threat.” Liao remains the Shakey’s V League commissioner.

Juico said he has nothing against Liao and in fact, when he was team manager, he helped out his son to enrol in school. “I don’t recall Tony Boy sitting on our bench,” said Juico. “I know he enjoys volleyball. I always made it a point to invite him to our team functions.”

Liao, now team manager of the Ateneo team that just won the UAAP senior women’s volleyball title, said most of this year’s Lady Eagles were walk-ons. The 14-strong roster was made up of two recruits from La Salle Bacolod, two from UST, four from Colegio de San Agustin, one from Brent, one from St. James Malabon, one from Jose Abad Santos Memorial, one from San Beda Alabang, one from Ateneo de Davao and one from St. John’s Bacolod. “The only player we recruited was Alyssa (Valdez) from UST with La Salle and NU also after her,” said Liao. “Players want to go to schools with a good volleyball program so they try out for Ateneo, La Salle and UST. We don’t really need to recruit because the players just walk in.”

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Liao said after Ateneo’s Fab Five graduated last year, it didn’t seem like the Lady Eagles would be competitive right away. “We recruited Fillie (Cainglet) and Dzi (Gervacio) from St. Scholastica’s but Gretchen (Ho) came on her own from Immaculate Concepcion – they were part of our Fab Five,” he said. “Gretchen took up management engineering and graduated with honors. She went to Ateneo for academics not sports. I asked her to try playing and studying at the same time. We lost our Fab Five but didn’t lose our confidence. Alyssa has two more years of eligibility with us. This year, we brought in four rookies, including Jia Morado and Michelle Morente.”

Liao said the Lady Eagles will be intact next season with no graduating player. “We’re enlisting new players, like 6-1 Bea de Leon of Poveda, 5-10 Filipina-Japanese Risa Sato and Fritz Gaston’s daughter Cris from UST,” he said. “There are two more girls from Cebu still making up their minds whether or not to join us.” It’s too early to speculate on a dynasty-in-the-making but the Lady Eagles seem to be on the right track with coach Tai Bundit at the helm.

La Salle, enjoying a thrice-to-beat advantage, was a point away from a four-peat but couldn’t convert in the fifth set of Game 3 in the finals against Ateneo. The Lady Eagles held on to win, 25-21, 25-23, 18-25, 16-25, 17-15. Then, in the winner-take-all Game 4, Ateneo blanked the Lady Spikers, 25-23, 26-24, 25-21 before 21,314 fans at the Mall of Asia Arena last Saturday. The Lady Spikers led, 17-10 and 23-20 in the second set but couldn’t seal it.