Former USJ-R belle says lack of benefits, facility made her transfer but Jaguars have different story
The Cesafi volleyball wars have yet to begin but things are already heating up off the court.
This after a former University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) volleybelle said she left the team because she was unhappy with the benefits and training facility. But the Jaguars camp had a different story to tell.
Maria Elah Silva was a reserve for USJ-R since 2014 but then decided to bring her talents to Urgello in the second semester last year to join the reigning Cesafi women’s champions Southwestern University (SWU) Lady Cobras because of several reasons.
In a chat with Cebu Daily News, the 19-year-old Silva, who represented her hometown Tanjay City, Negros in three consecutive Central Visayas Regional Athletics Association (CVIRAA) meets back in high school, said she left because the training facility and benefits for athletes were inadequate.
“In SWU, the benefits are nice because it’s 100 percent scholarship reserved or not,” said the outside spiker. “Complete issue. Free tuition
“Complete issue. Free tuition fee in summer class. All that is the exact opposite in USJ-R.”
Things started to fall apart with Silva and the Jaguars after she was suspended for a year from playing in the Cesafi because of enrolling only 12 units, three short of the required number of units for an athlete which is 15.
Things got worse for the badminton player-turned volleybelle after the school cut her scholarship from 100 percent to 50 percent.
“It would have been okay if I can’t play in the Cesafi as long as I still had the right benefits. The worst part is I’ve been giving my best so I can be granted a full scholarship but they only allowed me a 50-percent scholarship. It’s unfair because there were three of us who weren’t allowed to play but only I got 50-percent scholarship while the two others got 100 percent,” Silva said.
Silva, a Financial Management student, continued to let out her frustrations, saying she was unhappy while wearing a Jaguars uniform because they didn’t work as a team.
“Here in SWU, we work as a team and if there’s an issue within the team, we won’t bring it outside. The coach treats us fair, no favoritism,” Silva added.
Silva has been practicing with the Cobras since the second semester of the previous academic year. She is preparing for the upcoming season, which will be her first stint in the collegiate ranks since she was not able to play last year due to the residency rule.
TEAM POLICY
Multi-titled coach Grace Antigua was quick to defend her team, which was last year’s Cesafi women’s runner-up.
She clarified that Silva was actually cut from the lineup after violating an important team policy. The legendary mentor also denied all of Silva’s allegations with regards to the lack of facility and benefits.
“I cut her from the team because she violated an important team rule,” Antigua said.
On the subject of facilities, Antigua said it’s hard to believe USJ-R lacks this, considering the team’s success in Cebu volleyball. USJ-R was the women’s champion from 2006 to 2008.
“In what way can she say that we lack the facility? USJ-R is one of the elite. We have two volleyball courts while SWU only has Aznar (Coliseum). Maybe [she’s talking about] beach volleyball courts,” Antigua said.
Antigua also explained why the scholarship was sliced from 100 percent to 50 percent.
“It will depend on the performance of the player. Her scholarship was cut because she wasn’t used for many years,” Antigua said.
Despite the allegations of Silva, Antigua is happy for her former ward.
“I’m not a perfect coach. Maybe there are times that I don’t get to attend to other players’ needs but good for her. I’m happy that she is with SWU,” Antigua added.
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