Unsure of Ateneo return, Bea de Leon signs with Foton in PSL

MANILA, Philippines -- It appears that Bea de Leon had already played her final match in the UAAP.

De Leon, the 5-foot-11 Ateneo de Manila star, would be suiting up for Foton when the Philippine Superliga Invitational Conference fires off on June 23.

No less than Foton team owner Rommel Sytin introduced De Leon, saying that her presence would pump life into their towering frontline bannered by 6-foot-5 Jaja Santiago and 6-foot-2 Dindin Manabat.

True enough, De Leon Leon is such a gem of a recruit. She powered the Lady Eagles to a UAAP crown in 2015 before suiting up for the national team in the AVC Asian U23 Women’s Championship and the 28th Southeast Asian Games.

Then, the Lady Eagles settled for bridesmaid honors before falling shy of advancing to the finals early this year.

“We already have our twin tower and now, we’re introducing Bea to be our third tower,” Sytin said in a press briefing late Saturday.

“Bea is one of the best middle blockers in the country today so we’re glad to announce that she had found a home. I’m so happy that Bea chose Foton to be her new ballclub.”

Insiders said De Leon might no longer use her final playing for Ateneo.

In fact, her deal with Foton is a two-year contract, effectively barring her from seeing action in the UAAP next year.

Aside from that, the Lady Eagles are also entering a rebuilding phase with long-time Ateneo men’s volleyball mentor Oliver Almadro taking over from two-time champion Anusorn Bundit of Thailand.

But De Leon refused to directly confirm whether she would use her fifth year as her swan song or just simply move on to focus on powering the Tornadoes, who will lose the Japan-bound Santiago in the All-Filipino Conference.

“That’s a very hard question to finalize. For now, I’m taking it one step at a time,” said De Leon.

“It’s a very big decision for me. But this is my first time. After playing in the Invitationals, let’s see if I’m ready to return to Ateneo or not.”

She added that if ever she’s going to return to Ateneo, she wants to give her 100 percent inside the court.

“A lot of people say that they’ll do anything to play one more game in the UAAP. But what it takes to get there is a lot of sacrifices, commitment and hard work. I think I have to re-evaluate myself if I can still give that kind of commitment to Ateneo,” she said.

“Because if I’m not there for the right reasons, more or less, I will be a burden to the team. If I end there, I want to give 100 percent and I want nothing more but to give everything I have for my school.”

Aside from De Leon, Jhoanna Maraguinot will also bring her talent to the PSL after reaching a deal with Sta. Lucia Realty.

Maraguinot, however, already formally declared that she would no longer suit up for the Lady Eagles next year.