ATENEO players Michelle Morente and Ana Gopico will be out of the roster when the Lady Eagles gun for a third successive UAAP women’s volleyball championship in Season 78 owing to academic deficiencies.
Lady Eagles team manager Tonyboy Liao confirmed to Spin.ph the status of the incoming third year Ateneo duo on Friday.
According to Liao, Morente failed to reach the university’s Quality Point Index (QPI) for students but can still play next season if she’ll be able to improve her grades, while Gopico is definitely out.
“Yes, she’s (Morente) out next season, (while) Gopico is definitely out of the school,” he said.
“I’m not quite sure of Michelle’s course. She didn’t reach the QPI of Ateneo students,” he added. “The Ateneo rule is she can’t train with the team. For Gopico’s status, she really failed.”
Their cases are similar to Ateneo basketball player Thirdy Ravena, who will be out of the Blue Eagles' lineup this season owing to academic problems.
[See Ateneo confirms Thirdy Ravena ineligible for coming season]
In her rookie year, Morente was a vital cog in Ateneo’s maiden title conquest against a thrice-to-beat La Salle squad in Season 77 in 2014. However, she was used sparingly in Season 78.
Like Morente, Gopico started her stint with the Lady Eagles in 2014 but was sidelined midway through the season due to a knee injury.
Ateneo is gunning for its third consecutive title with back-to-back MVP Alyssa Valdez leading the way along with setter Jia Morado and Jhoanna Maraguinot.
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