SHE WAS expected to lead the UST Golden Tigresses this UAAP season, but she opted to turn pro.
Multi-awarded Tigress Maruja Banaticla waived her last playing year amid issues surrounding the women’s indoor volleyball team lineup.
“My name was highlighted and there was a question mark affixed,” the former Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player said in an interview with the Varsitarian regarding the list of players to be included in the Golden Tigresses’ lineup.
It came as a “shock” to Banaticla since she was conditioning herself for the upcoming volleyball season.
“At first, I was shocked when someone told me about the rumor. I went to the IPEA (Institute of Physical Education and Athletics) office to confirm it,” she said.
Upon confirmation of her status with the team, Banaticla immediately informed her father.
“My father would just tell me to work, to look for a job. But I would always respond that we should wait as things could still be resolved,” she said, but eventually agreed to her father’s advice to just “move on.”
Banaticla sent a text message to IPEA director Fr. Ermito de Sagon, O.P. to inform him of her decision, to which De Sagon replied: “Thank you very much for your enormous contribution to our volleyball undertakings.”
Parting ways
Banaticla was offered by coach Roger Gorayeb to play for PLDT in the Philippine Superliga (PSL) right after her stint with the Smart-Maynilad squad in the Shakey’s V-League open conference in August. She initially turned down the offer, saying she still had a year to play for UST in the UAAP.
But after learning about the uncertainty of her being included in the lineup, Banaticla called Gorayeb to explain the situation. The former Ateneo coach said his offer still stood.
“I felt relieved when coach said he would still bring me in with them,” she said. “Although I was partly sad because I would no longer be able to represent UST, I was also happy because I got an opportunity to improve my game.”
Now that she is officially a professional player, Banaticla hopes her stint in the PSL could help her get her confidence back.
“Skills are something you can’t lose. It was my morale that went down ever since I wasn’t fully utilized in the team,” she said. “I know my performance dropped since last season. I even watched games when I was still in my second year. It became my inspiration to be as good as I was then.”
“Nine years isn’t something I would easily forget. We know volleyball players who become known only in the college ranks. I, on the other hand, gave my dedication and heart to UST even when I was still in high school,” Banaticla added.
Sought for comment, coach Odjie Mamon said: “We should not talk about those who are not part of the team anymore.”
