GOLDEN Tigresses assistant coach Yani Fernandez aired frustration over a Varsitarian feature story that compared the Golden Tigresses’ slow start in UAAP Season 88 with their Season 80 campaign.
In an interview with media outlet Fastbreak on Wednesday, Fernandez said the story was “painful” for the team, claiming that the Varsitarian, as the University’s student publication, has been “unhelpful” to the volleyball campaign.
“‘Yun ‘yong medyo ano, masakit din sa part namin,” Fernandez said. “Sa amin lang kasi, school publication siya na affiliated ng UST. Hindi siya nakakatulong sa part namin.”
The ‘V’ story, published Tuesday, looked back at UST’s 2-3 start through five games following a straight-sets loss to Adamson, its worst opening stretch since Season 80.
In 2018, the Tigresses finished seventh with a 4-10 record after injuries to key players and a five-game losing streak that extended into the second round.
Fr. Rodel Cansancio, O.P., the UST athletics director and UAAP Season 88 president, backed Fernandez on social media, reposting the clip of the Fastbreak interview and calling the Varsitarian staff’s attention.
Fernandez acknowledged that people were free to express their views but said he hoped the publication would show support for the team.
He claimed that other UST sports teams, such as the men’s basketball squad, were given the same treatment.
“Again, well, this is a free country,” he said. “Hopefully mas matulungan din kami and then ‘yong timing din nila na mag-publish ng kung ano man na maramdaman naman namin ‘yong suporta nila, hindi ‘yong other way around.”
UST has since improved to a 3-3 record after defeating the University of the Philippines, tying the UP Fighting Maroons for fourth place.
The Varsitarian’s response
Sports news outlets picked up Fernandez’s statements, including Spin.PH, which reported a supposed social media campaign to oust the volleyball coach, Shaq Delos Santos.
In a statement, the Varsitarian clarified that it was “not part of the supposed social media clamor calling for a ‘reset’ of the University of Santo Tomas women’s volleyball team or the removal of head coach Shaq Delos Santos.”
The publication added that it “did not amplify any content advocating such actions.”
The Varsitarian said the article in question was intended as a sports flashback that placed the team’s early-season record in historical context.
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“Such comparisons are common in sports journalism and were not meant to diminish the team or its current campaign,” the 98-year-old campus publication said.
It added that its responsibility is “to report developments of interest to the Thomasian community,” and that its coverage of the Golden Tigresses “has consistently been prominent.”
“Our coverage has always been guided by the same journalistic purpose: to inform the Thomasian community while recognizing the efforts of the players, coaches, and staff who represent the University,” it said.
