UAAP 81 men's volleyball preview: Rebuilding Ateneo banking on familiar coach

MANILA, Philippines – When the UAAP men’s volleyball tournament opens this weekend, the Ateneo men’s volleyball team (AMVT), in rebuilding mode, will have a familiar face on the sidelines.

That is their balik-head coach Timmy Sto. Tomas.

Sto. Tomas, who suited up for Ateneo from 2004-09, was part of Ateneo’s first Final Four team years ago. When Oliver Almadro left in his first go-around with the AMVT, it was Sto. Tomas who picked up the baton midway through the 2009-10 season. And now, after a Golden Age of Ateneo volleyball that saw the men’s (and women’s teams) reach heights of glory previously unattained, it is now up to Sto. Tomas to rear a rebuilding team and bring them back up.

When Almadro returned for his second stint with the AMVT, the Blue Eagles won three straight UAAP volleyball championships as well as three Spikers’ Turf titles. 

Sto. Tomas was also on the sidelines assisting Almadro during Ateneo’s recent reign. He said that he has picked up a lot in these recent seasons that will help him in his return as head coach.

“I can say that with all the experiences that I have gained in the past 10 years, it has helped me become more innovative in my approach to handling the team,” said Sto. Tomas. “The sport has changed a lot when it comes to technique and game play. The team was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to travel abroad for training and competition. Through this, I was able to gain a lot of experience and ideas.”

For all the technical changes, Timmy says the one thing he will not budge from is his being a stickler for discipline. “The way I handle the team is still the same as before,” he admitted. “I am very strict when it comes to enforcing rules and in making sure they uphold their responsibilities as student-athletes. I also keep in mind that my players have lives outside volleyball and of the school. They just have to be constantly reminded of what to prioritize at a certain point.”

In this “new era” with the graduated wunderkinds Marck Espejo and Ish Polvoroza, Sto. Tomas’ Ateneo team will be captained by Jasper Tan. Also on hand will be graduating playersManuel Sumanguid, John Rivera and Tony Koyfman, whose absence last season due to academics really hurt the team. Koyfman was a huge help two years ago in the face of challenges from NU, FEU, and La Salle. 

Rounding out the Blue Eagles are Ron Medalla, Egie Magadia, Gian Glorioso, Basti Cuerva, Pau Trinidad, Chumason Njigha, Bok Morado, Zolo Ligot, and freshmen Kurt Aguilar, Canciono Llenos and Zach Santamaria. 

Koyfman and Rivera are tasked to lead the team in scoring while Magadia will fill in the slot of Polvoroza while back-stopped by Morado and Santamaria.

In the preseason, Sto. Tomas worked on the team’s defense placing more emphasis on blocking and receiving. He also worked on the team’s serving. As a player, Sto. Tomas was known for his jump and running serves that gave opponents fits. He hopes that Ateneo will continue to utilize the serve as a huge first strike option. Points-wise, Medalla, Rivera, and Koyfman are expected to provide a ton of them for Ateneo. 

“NU will still be the team to beat as they lost only Fauzi Ismail,” noted Sto. Tomas of the title contenders. “FEU will be very good as they have an intact lineup.”

For the Blue Eagles, they will need to raise the level of its game and come from all quarters. 

Ateneo, finalists in the last five UAAP seasons, will open their Season 81 account on February 17 when they battle DLSU at the Mall of Asia Arena at 10 a.m.