Former USJ-R spiker to play for NU in UAAP

Former USJ-R boys volleyball team captain Kleeve Marc Canumay will be joining the NU Bullpups in Season 80 of the UAAP.
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LEVEL UP

Former University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) boys’ volleyball team captain Kleeve Marc Canumay will be taking his talents to the big stage, as he was signed by reigning University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) champions National University (NU) Bullpups.

The 17-year-old Canumay, who was a key ingredient in the Jaguars’ success in the past two seasons helping them win the 2015 Cesafi boys title, is expected to make his UAAP debut this year as he looks to help the Bullpups achieve a rare grand slam in the Season 80, which opens this September.

The talent of the Talisay City native impressed coaches from the north during his stint in the Palarong Pambansa while representing the Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA) team.

“(I decided to join NU) due to their offer because I don’t want it to go to waste since it’s also my dream to play in the UAAP,” the grade 12 student Canumay said.

Although it will be a dream come true for Canumay to play in the UAAP, he admitted it was difficult for him to leave USJ-R.

“It was tough for me to leave because I will really miss my teammates,” Canumay said. “Our team would have been stronger this year.”

In his two years with the Baby Jaguars, Canumay made quite an impression on the defensive end, winning the Cesafi’s best blocker award in 2015 and leading the team to a respectable third place finish in his first year as a team captain last season.

This isn’t the first time NU acquired Cebuano talents this year. The NU beach volleyball teams also got the services of Canamay’s USJ-R teammate James Buytrago and reigning Cesafi Most Valuable Player (MVP) Pol Salvador after putting up remarkable performances in the tryouts held in Liloan last July.