ROSELLE Baliton shrugged off critics bashing her inclusion in the pool for the national women’s volleyball team over other touted setters like Ateneo star Jia Morado.
The setter from University of the East became a trending topic on social media on Tuesday after she was named by his college coach Francis Vicente to the 25-woman pool that will train for the 29th Southeast Asian Games, Asian U-23 Women’s Championship and the AVC Asian Women’s Seniors.
Not a few fans were not happy to see the third year UE playmaker make the cut, so much so that she has been sent hateful messages not just on Twitter but also through her personal phone number.
“Actually noong hindi pa ako nag-online, may nagte-text na sa akin so naisip ko na sa text pa nga lang meron na, so sa internet meron na rin (nambabash sa akin),” shared Baliton.
“Hindi ko sila kilala (‘yung mga nagtetext), unknown number. Sabi, umatras na daw ako sa lineup kasi madami na nagba-bash,” she added. “Tapos trending daw ako sa Twitter hindi dahil sa support kundi dahil sa pamba-bash.”
[See Contrary to LVPI claim, Jia Morado and Co. didn't get invitation for tryouts, says Ateneo]
But Baliton is unperturbed with the mean comments, saying scrutiny is par for the course when you become a member of the national team.
“Sa internet naman, nababasa ko kasi sabog ang notifications ko pero hinayaan ko na lang. Okay na lang, deadma na lang,” she said.
“May mga nababasa ako na (hindi maganda) pero ganoon talaga, part talaga ng life ‘yun sa pag-grow. Syempre madami nakatutok sa lineup, sa coaches, sa players, part ‘yun so tanggap lang,” she added.
While Baliton tried not to pay attention to the bashers, she could not help but feel bad for Vicente, who’s also her mentor at UE. The third year business management student believes that Vicente has a purpose for putting her in the pool and she trusts his decision.
“Oo, masakit kasi jina-judge nila si coach na may authority pero ako deadma na lang,” said the middle blocker turned setter. “Nahu-hurt din pero kasi accepted ko na sabihin nila na raw pa ako, hilaw pa ako as setter na syempre madami rin naman mas magaling din, hindi ko na lang iniisip ‘yun.”
“Ginawa na lang ‘yun ng coaching staff for the betterment of the team na alam ko naman na mas madami pa ako matututunan sa training,” added Baliton.