NATIONAL University coach Roger Gorayeb confirmed that Ateneo recruit Risa Sato attended Lady Bulldogs’ Wednesday practice.
Sato, a Filipino-Japanse middle blocker, has been red-shirting for the Lady Eagles for almost two years but reports have been circulating that she has already transferred to NU.
In an interview with Spin.ph on Thursday, Gorayeb, who called the shots for Ateneo from 2008-2013 before he transferred to NU early this year, shed light on the issue and verified the status of Sato.
“Ganito kasi ‘yan, kahapon lang nagpunta sa training (si Sato) and hindi rin naman siya naka-enroll sa Ateneo,” said the veteran mentor, who brought Sato to Ateneo in 2013.
“So parang nakiki-tryout lang,” he added. “Tutal hindi naman siya ginastusan ng Ateneo, kawawa naman ‘yung bata hindi maka-enroll gusto mag-aral.”
Lady Eagles team manager Tony Liao also confirmed that Sato was indeed not enrolled in Ateneo because she failed the entrance exam.
“Very low ang chance niya (Sato) to study in Ateneo,” said Liao. “Number one, she took the entrance exam but she didn’t make it.”
“Gusto ng Filipina mother niya that she take another exam but the exam is in English eh, she can’t understand or speak English, we gave her an English tutor pero ‘di nakatulong,” he added.
Sato played for the national team that competed in the Asian U-23 Women’s Championship under Gorayeb last May.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
