REIGNING UAAP rookie-MVP Julius Diaz is set to leave the UST Golden Sox following an altercation with a teammate.
Diaz, who was tied for the most runs-batted-in at 12 last season, said he could move either to National University or the University of Rizal System, where he played high school baseball.
“UST is really not for me even if I want to be here,” he told the Varsitarian.
Diaz said an older teammate came to his dormitory on the night of Aug. 25 and kicked him repeatedly on the stomach.
He said the teammate confronted him for leaving early and failing to perform with other rookies at a UST pep rally.
Probe
Diaz identified his attacker as Kirk Daquis. The Varsitarian tried to contact Daquis for comment but he did not reply.
Diaz said through a text message that his case has already been filed at the Office of Student Affairs but OSA director Arlene Calara said she has not received a complaint.
Diaz’s parents did not take it lightly, telling their son to leave UST.
“UST will always be a good school but if your teammates are like that, you must call it quits,” Diaz quoted his mom as saying. “I didn’t let you study in UST just to be kicked.”
Seniority
Golden Sox head coach Jeffrey Santiago acknowledged that Diaz had problems with some of his teammates.
“I’m still doing as much as I can because he plays a pivotal role in the team. But like what I have said, it all boils down to discipline, he had become full of himself and that is difficult,” the coach said. “I told him that even if he has several awards but is not able to bring the team into the championship or even in the top four, you cannot boast of those awards.”
Santiago said he was still trying to convince Diaz to stay.
Diaz, a former Palarong Pambansa Homerun King, first suited up for the UST junior baseball squad. But he left after a year, saying he found it difficult and costly to travel daily to school from his house in Tanay, Rizal.
“I wanted to be here because this is my dream school,” Diaz said.
The Golden Sox still have a lot of work to do to improve team chemistry.
Former team captain Arvin Plaza said respecting seniority among the players was important.
“All players should know that coping and adjusting with other players are important, especially if a player does not have that much of a playing experience,” he said.
