FORMER Ateneo setter Jia Morado was saddened by the news regarding the internal problem between Lady Eagles coach Tai Bundit and the players.
The four-year Ateneo mentor, who steered the Lady Eagles to four straight Finals appearances, including back-to-back titles in Seasons 76 and 77, is on the brink of losing his job a few months before the UAAP Season 80 women's volleyball tournament kicks off.
Lady Eagles team manager Tony Boy Liao confirmed on Sunday that the players were complaining about the Spartan-like training regimen that Bundit make the team go through while some players were also unhappy with their limited playing time.
Morado, a vital cog in Ateneo's dominance in the UAAP, stayed mum on the turmoil between her former coach and Lady Eagles teammates but instead paid tribute to Bundit.
"Syempre malungkot (ako) kasi he really gave a lot for the school talaga. Ako, I wouldn't be where I am today kung hindi niya rin ako tinuruan," said Morado, who remained optimistic about the team’s future and Bundit’s career.
"So I'm sure naman may plano talaga si God sa kung anong mangyayari for the team and for Coach Tai. So, (I'm) just hoping na kung saan siya dalhin, he'll do well," she added.
Although the team is in a difficult situation, Morado insisted that she won't be coming back for her fifth and final year be it as a player or as a coach.
Morado suited up as an assistant coach for the Lady Eagles in their campaign in the Premier Volleyball League Collegiate Conference. But she insisted a coaching stint doesn't interest her at this time.
"No. Hindi talaga (babalik)," she said. "(I'm) thinking about it (coaching job), pero I think, ano ba, kung magko-coach ba ako? Playing coach? Baka hindi."
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